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8908 



Bureau of Mines Information Circular/1982 




Health and Safety In-House and Contract 
Research and Development 
in Fiscal Year 1983 

By Staff, Division of Health and Safety Technology 




UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 



/CH / !/>-■•/ • -w ^/ • I -• -r J 



-jw r — ^ 



Information Circular 8908 



Health and Safety In-House and Contract 
Research and Development 
in Fiscal Year 1983 

By Staff, Division of Health and Safety Technology 




UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
James G. Watt, Secretary 

BUREAU OF MINES 
Robert C. Horton, Director 






o<3 



This publication has been cataloged as follows: 



Health and safety in-house and contract research and development in 
fiscal year 1983. 

(Information circular / United States Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Mines ; 8908) 

Supt. of Docs, no.: I 28.27:8908. 

1. Mine safety— Research— United States. 2. Mine sanitation- 
Research— United States. I. United States. Bureau of Mines. Division 
of Health and Safety Technology. « II. Series: Information circular 
(United States. Bureau of Mines) ; 8908. 



TN295.U4 622s [622\8] 82-600304 



•si 

4 



CONTENTS 



Page 



I 



Abstract 1 

Introduction 1 

Program outline 

Part I. — In-house research 2 

Health 2 

Respirable dust 2 

Control of dust formation 2 

Control of generated dust 3 

Dust instrumentation and measurement 3 

Radiation hazards 4 

Control of radiation hazards 4 

Radiation instrumentation and measurement 4 

Noise control 5 

Industrial hygiene 5 

Toxic gases and materials 5 

Diesel engines and alternative power sources 6 

Ventilation. 6 

Safety 7 

Fire and explosion prevention 7 

Prevention and detection research 7 

Ignition research 8 

Suppression research 8 

Propagation and extinguishment research. 9 

Methane control 9 

Fundamental factors 9 

Control in advance of mining 10 

Control during mining 10 

Ground control 11 

Mine design and development. 11 

Hazard detection and monitoring systems 14 

Roof support systems 15 

Safe support installation 17 

Mining and minerals processing waste stability 18 

Industrial hazards 19 

Human factors 19 

Electrical 20 

Mine equipment safety 21 

Illumination 22 

Mine communications and monitoring 22 

Haulage and materials handling 23 

Postdisaster 24 

Survival 24 

Communications 24 

Rescue and mine recovery 24 

Explosives 24 

Systems engineering 26 

Systems analysis 26 

Test facilities 27 






ii 



CONTENTS— Cont inued 

Page 

Part II . — Contract research 27 

Health 27 

Respirable dust 27 

Control of generated dust 27 

Dust Instrumentation and measurement 28 

Noise control 28 

Industrial hygiene 29 

Toxic gases and materials 30 

Diesels 30 

Ventilation 30 

Safety 31 

Methane control 31 

Control during mining 31 

Ground control 31 

Roof support systems 31 

Safe support installation 31 

Industrial hazards 32 

Human factors 33 

Electrical 33 

Mine equipment safety. 34 

Illumination 34 

Mine communications and monitoring 34 

Haulage and materials handling 35 

Postdisaster 35 

Survival 35 

Communications 36 

Rescue and mine recovery 36 



HEALTH AND SAFETY IN-HOUSE AND CONTRACT RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 1983 

By Staff, Division of Health and Safety Technology 



ABSTRACT 

This publication summarizes, for potential contractors and all other 
interested parties, the research and development of in-house and con- 
tract projects programmed by the Bureau of Mines for fiscal year 1983 
(October 1, 1982-September 30, 1983) under its Health and Safety Tech- 
nology program. The objective of these projects is to provide an or- 
dered and sequenced series of advance toward the Bureau's overall goal 
of providing the systems technology required to create a more healthful 
and safer working environment for the Nation's mining and minerals pro- 
cessing workers. 

INTRODUCTION 

The Bureau of Mines conducts a balanced, continuing in-house research 
and development program to accelerate systematic improvements in health 
and safety conditions in U.S. mines. Part I of this report outlines 
the Bureau's present in-house effort to all interested parties; in par- 
ticular, potential contractors can refer to it when submitting USP's 
(unsolicited proposals), thus avoiding proposing research that dupli- 
cates work being performed by the Bureau. 

It is the policy of the Bureau of Mines to utilize as fully as possi- 
ble the capabilities of the private sector in minerals research, and to 
that end Part II of this report outlines the Bureau's current projected 
contract research needs. 

The projects presented were planned at the beginning of the fiscal 
year and are subject to change based on emerging priorities and avail- 
ability of funds. Contingencies may require that a significant portion 
of the program be deferred into fiscal year 1984 (FY 84) or beyond. It 
is important to realize that since this is a summary document, the 
project descriptions related to a design, fabrication, and demonstra- 
tion effort do not necessarily imply total package procurement. 

Contracts for the Health and Safety Research program will be con- 
ducted in strict accordance with Federal Procurement Regulations. 
Availability of requests for proposals (RFP's) will be formally adver- 
tised in the Commerce Business Daily. No additional information will 
be supplied on these projects until after the RFP's are made available 
and then only in strict accordance with prescribed procedures. This 
document is not intended to solicit proposals from the contracting com- 
munity. All USP's whose content reflects the objective(s) of the pro- 
posed projects listed herein will be returned without formal review. 



PROGRAM OUTLINE 



The objective of the Health and 
Safety Technology program is to protect 
the health and safety of mining and min- 
erals processing workers while insuring 
that newly developed technology incorpor- 
ates health and safety criteria. In 
achieving this objective, four fundamen- 
tal and complementary requirements must 
be considered by the research program, as 
follows: 

1. Contributing to the viability of a 
basic industry. 



The Health and Safety Technology program 
is divided into 12 subprogram areas as 
shown: 

Health 

Respirable dust 
Radiation hazards 
Noise control 
Industrial hygiene 
Ventilation 

Safety 



2. Sustaining productivity. 

3. Allowing for a return on capital 
investment. 



4. Providing 
the public. 



material and energy to 



Fires and explosion prevention 

Methane control 

Ground control 

Industrial-type hazards 

Postdisaster 

Explosives 

Systems engineering 



Since mining and minerals processing 
involve a highly integrated and inter- 
related set of functions, the program 
has been divided into a set of inter- 
related subprograms, each with goals that 
will provide systems technology solu- 
tions" to the problems within the frame- 
work of these fundamental requirements. 



The objectives of these subprograms are 
described in the following pages, fol- 
lowed by the planned projects and their 
corresponding descriptions. The aggre- 
gate value of the planned in-house proj- 
ects is approximately $23 million and of 
the anticipated contracts, $8 million. 



PART I.— IN-HOUSE RESEARCH 



Health 



Control of Dust Formation 



Respirable Dust 

Program Objectives : To develop proce- 
dures for controlling the respirable 
dusts that still constitute the severest 
health problem facing the mining and min- 
eral processing industries. To develop 
and/or improve techniques and equipment 
to prevent formation of hazardous dust 
concentrations, and to protect miners 
against dusty atmospheres. 



1. Reduction of Airborne Coal Dust With 
Increased Machine Efficiency 

Objective : To develop background in- 
formation of a fundamental nature on 
coal cutting technology that supports 
long-term solution to problems of pri- 
mary dust generation during coal cutting. 
Specifically, to continue research on the 
relationship between bit geometry and 






dust generation; to continue to develop 
in situ cutting force and dust informa- 
tion data using the Bureau-developed "in- 
seam tester;" and to initiate multiple- 
bit testing on a full-diameter, one- 
quarter-wide continuous mining machine 
drum section to evaluate bit interaction 
and/or lacing effects on primary respir- 
able dust generation. 

Control of Generated Dust 

2. Dust Control by Chemicals and 
Chemical Additives 

Objective : To continue development 
of wetting agent selection criteria and 
correlate with in-mine results. To in- 
vestigate methods, such as the addition 
of small quantities of dispositive ions, 
for making wetting agents more effec- 
tive on coal at low concentrations. To 
establish which mining operations can 
benefit from the use of surfactants. To 
continue laboratory studies to determine 
the effectiveness of calcium chloride 
and wetting agents on airborne dust 
reduction. 

3. Development of Improved Dust Control 
Technologies for Coal Mines 

Objective : To continue to develop 
and evaluate improved dust control tech- 
niques in underground coal mines based on 
the use of remote control, double brat- 
tice ventilation, high-pressure conven- 
tional sprays, and water-powered scrub- 
bers. To conduct surveys on mining faces 
to determine dust sources and the effec- 
tiveness of control techniques. To de- 
velop improved techniques to evaluate 
longwall face ventilation. To continue 
to develop improved dust sampling strat- 
egies for the evaluation of longwall 
dust control technology. To continue to 
transfer technology developed under con- 
tracts and in-house studies to the mining 
industry. 



4. Dust Control Technologies for Metal 
and Nonmetal Mines and Processing 
Mills 

Objective : To continue to conduct 
preliminary studies leading to develop- 
ment of improved dust control techniques 
for metal and nonmetal mines and mineral 
processing mills. To evaluate various 
preconditioning agents and their effect 
on lowering overall dust levels in pro- 
cessing plants. To determine whether the 
sampling efficiency of the 10-mm Dorr- 
Oliver cyclone is adversely impacted by 
high air velocities and orientation rela- 
tive to the airflow. 

5. Analysis of MSHA Health and Safety 
Inspection Data From Metal and 
Nonmetal Mines 

Objective : To develop a health haz- 
ard index for metal and nonmetal mines 
that will aid the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration (MSHA) in determining its 
inspection and sampling strategy, and in 
ranking mine health hazards. To maintain 
and expand the Mine Inspection Data Anal- 
ysis System (MIDAS) to include informa- 
tion from the Bureau's Minerals Avail- 
ability System (MAS) data base. 

Dust Instrumentation and Measurement 

6 . Respirable Dust Measure me nt and 
Instrumentation Evaluation 

Objective : To continue the design of 
coal mine respirable dust monitoring 
strategies for control of the miner's ex- 
posure. To conduct evaluations of newly 
developed instruments and measurement 
techniques. To seek out new aerosol de- 
tection techniques and determine feasi- 
bility of applying them to the measure- 
ment needs of the mining industry. To 
maintain an aerosol laboratory and conti- 
nue to improve the in-house expertise in 
aerosol measurement. 



7. Determination of Silica Particle 
Size Distribution in Respirable 
Mine Dust Samples 

Objective : To provide reliable sil- 
ica determinations for effective enforce- 
ment and control of dust levels in mines. 
Specifically, silica particle-size dis- 
tributions will be determined on mine 
respirable dust samples to allow selec- 
tion of a matched distribution in the 
silica standard material used for silica 
analysis. 

Radiation Hazards 

Program Objectives : To develop and 
provide new and improved measurement in- 
strumentation and control technology for 
protection of miners from exposure to 
radon and radon daughters and other nu- 
clear radiation hazards in uranium and 
other mines. 

Control of Radiation Hazards 

1. Radon Control Technology 

Objective : To continue to evaluate 
the effectiveness of overpressurization 
ventilation on radon control for typical 
thicknesses, grades, and physical proper- 
ties of ore, subore, and waste using com- 
puter simulation. To continue modeling 
of diurnal barometric pressure change and 
its effects of radon entering the envi- 
ronment, and to examine the potential of 
incorporating fractures and moisture ef- 
fects in the porous media models. To 
conduct preliminary surveys in at least 
two active mines to determine the extent, 
of radon transported by mine water and 
develop corrective measures. To evaluate 
the effectiveness of bulkheads to control 
radon emanation from a nonproductive area 
in one mine. 

2. Control of Radon Daughters Through 
Air Cleaning and Other Removal 
Techniques 

Objective : To continue studies on 
various methods of removing radioac- 
tive components from mine atmospheres. 



Emphasis will be on determining the fea- 
sibility of using methods other than fil- 
ter media for removing radioactive par- 
ticulates, such as water sprays, negative 
ion generators, and special membranes. 
To provide necessary technical assistance 
to the contractor during testing phase of 
a prototype air-cleaning system. 

Radiation Instrumentation and Measurement 

3. Personal Exposure Instrumentation 
and Measurement Technology 

Objective: To continue studies on 
passive radon dosimeters that will in- 
clude (1) overall accuracy in a mine en- 
vironment, (2) improvement in sensitivity 
through electrostatic collection, and 
(3) determination of the characteristics 
of the equilibrium factor (F) needed to 
convert cumulative radon measurements to 
cumulative radon daughter measurements. 
To continue evaluation of airless conti- 
nuous working level detectors through 
both laboratory and active mine studies. 
To continue evaluation of beta detectors 
for rapid working level measurements by 
grab sampling techniques that do not use 
air collection on filters. To evaluate 
commercial radon daughter measuring sys- 
tems for accuracy and reliability in mine 
environments. To determine the validity 
of radon sampling for measuring concen- 
trations of radon and radon daughters. 

4. Radiation Warning System for 
Uranium Mines 

Objective : To determine the feasi- 
bility and benefits of combining the de- 
sirable features of the 32-channel and 
the 500-channel systems into one system. 
This system will have the capability to 
sound alarms both at the surface and un- 
derground, record conditions, turn fans 
on and off, and as monitor power use, 
ventilation, and other critical engineer- 
ing parameters and environmental condi- 
tions. The system also will have the 
capability of printing out trend logs 
(historical) and shift reports (averaged 
readings per shift) for up to 30 detec- 
tors or monitors. Field evaluation of 






the improved system will be conducted in 
two active mines. 

Noise Control 

Program Objectives ; To work with 
industry to identify noise sources in 
underground and surface mines and in 
related mineral cleaning and preparation 
facilities, and to abate these noise 
sources sufficiently to meet Federal 
noise exposure standards. 

1. Development of Noise Control 
Techniques for Coal Mining 
Machinery 

Objective : To further the implemen- 
tation of noise control techniques by the 
mining industry. This will be accom- 
plished via equipment development and 
dissemination of information. 

2. Noise Control Research and Testing 
of Mining Machinery 

Objective : To extend the capability 
to acoustically evaluate the performance 
of mining machinery in order to make com- 
parisons of equipment performance before 
and after noise control technology has 
been applied. To test long-term relia- 
bility of mining equipment to which noise 
control technology has been applied. 

3. Reduced Gear Noise Research 



equipment to make in-mine measurements of 
hearing protector performance. 

Industrial Hygiene (Toxic Substances) 

Program Objectives : To identify and 
control health hazards in surface and un- 
derground mines and mineral processing 
plants caused by toxic gases and fumes, 
and certain particulates produced by ex- 
plosives, combustible materials, and die- 
sel engines. To develop and evaluate new 
instrumentation for monitoring these sub- 
stances. To develop and/or refine ana- 
lytical techniques for measuring and 
characterizing toxic substances, and 
investigate methods for controlling the 
formation and accumulation of toxic prod- 
ucts. To analyze alternative power 
sources that may have health advantages 
over existing mine diesels. 

Toxic Gases and Materials 

1. Explosive Fume Characterization 

Objective : To establish the rela- 
tionship between toxic fumes produced in 
a 38,000-L chamber and those produced in 
the Bichel Gage and C-J apparatus and re- 
late these to actual explosive fumes from 
in-mine measurements. To carry out fume 
measurements on all types of mining ex- 
plosives including blasting agents and 
establish standard test procedures for 
the measurement of toxic fumes. 



Objective : To initiate a literature 
search and analysis of noise control 
of gear sets and transmissions in order 
to assess the applicability to mining 
machinery. 

4. Measurement of Noise Reduction 
Provided by Hearing Protectors 
Worn by Miners 

Objective : To investigate methods of 
evaluating hearing protector perform- 
ance that could be used to determine the 
degree of noise reduction provided in 
the field. The in-mine performance of 
personal hearing protectors is to be 
established, along with procedures and 



2. Improved Instruments for Mine Gases 

Objective : To evaluate and verify 
the performance of commercially available 
or contract-developed instruments and 
devices for noxious and toxic gases. To 
acquire instruments and devices and eval- 
uate their operation under varying con- 
ditions of temperature, humidity, and 
pressure. To determine the stability, 
accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and ap- 
plicability to measure noxious and toxic 
gases in the mining environment. To as- 
sess air quality monitoring strategies 
and methods to determine their effective- 
ness in the underground mine environment. 
To develop a portable, self-contained 



self-contained diesel exhaust gas ana- 
lyzer which is mine rugged. 

3. Measurement and Control of Welding 
Fumes 

Objective : To assess related indus- 
try practices pertaining to measurement 
and control of welding and cutting fumes, 
dust, and radiation, and adapt this tech- 
nology to confined work areas found in 
the mining environment. To determine the 
quantity and character of welding pollut- 
ants and personnel exposure levels. To 
propose control systems and/or isolation 
techniques to reduce or eliminate expo- 
sure to toxic substances resulting from 
welding and cutting. 

4. Mercury Vapor Suppression in Mercury 
Ore Processing 

Objective : To determine the condi- 
tions under which mercury vapor is re- 
leased during grinding and froth flota- 
tion operations, and correlate these con- 
ditions with measured levels of vapor 
emissions. To develop a hydrometallurgi- 
cal alternative to the present roasting 
process for processing mercury concen- 
trates into the pure metal. 

Diesel Engines and Alternative Power 
Sources 

5. Control of Diesel Exhaust 
Contaminants 

Objective : To supplement contract 
research in the control and analysis of 
diesel exhaust emissions. To measure am-, 
bient contaminants and correlate with 
emissions data. To investigate control 
systems for contaminants by means of lab- 
oratory experiments. To devise and se- 
lect analytical procedures for emission 
control systems and components at the 
tailpipe and ambient levels. 



6. Investigation of Emission Controls 
for Diesel Engines Operated 
Underground and Alternative Power 
Source Assessment 

Objective : To identify potential 
methods and hardware applicable for use 
as emission controls for turbocharged 
mine diesels. To review the literature 
as to the current state of knowledge per- 
taining to the use of internal combustion 
engines operating underground. To study 
applications of diesel equipment in new 
mining systems such as oil shale. To as- 
sess alternative power sources that may 
have health and operational advantages 
over existing mine diesels. 

7. Industrial Hygiene Hazards 

Objective : To analyze occupational 
and industrial exposure profiles for 
welding fumes and toxic gases and relate 
these to occupational illnesses reported 
to the Health and Safety Analysis Center 
(HSAC) and to analyze HSAC data in order 
to identify those areas where industrial 
hygiene problems are most severe. 

Ventilation 

Program Objectives : To develop ven- 
tilation systems required to maintain 
a safe and healthful atmosphere condu- 
cive to efficient work output in noncoal 
mines. 

1. Development of Improved Ventilation 
Technology for Noncoal Mines and 
Mills 

Objective : To develop improved tech- 
nologies for ventilating and cooling 
stopes and development headings in hot 
metal and nonmetal mines. To develop im- 
proved and safe methods of heating shafts 
in winter to prevent ice buildups and to 



make the transport of personnel comforta- 
ble. To continue to develop methods of 
ventilating dead-ended working headings 
in metal and nonmetal mines. 

Safety 

Fire and Explosion Prevention 

Program Objectives : To reduce the 
potential for a fire or explosion in min- 
eral extraction and processing opera- 
tions, to minimize the danger to people 
on account of fires or explosions that do 
occur, and to diminish the vulnerability 
to such attendant hazards as high temper- 
ature, asphyxiating and toxic fumes, and 
explosive gas mixtures. 

Prevention and Detection Research 

1. Field Testing of Coal Mine Dust 
Incombustible Meter 

Objective ; To produce a suitable 
number (five) of field-prototype coal 
mine dust incombustible content meters 
for field testing. 

2. Remote Methane and Mine 
Fire Detection 

Objective : To determine the Raman 
scattering properties of methane and oth- 
er flammable gases, and demonstrate on a 
laboratory scale remote measurement tech- 
niques for these gases. To improve upon 
fire sensors and fire sensing methodolo- 
gies, and determine detection criteria 
and associated guidelines for the optimum 
deployment of sensors and/or sensing sys- 
tems for early warning of fires. 

3. Float Dust Formation, Deposition, 
and Control 

Objective : To perform field tests 
on the effectiveness of techniques such 
as water sprays to control the amount of 
float coal dust. To field-test the IRAD 
dust deposition meter, which consists of 
a set of small sensor heads that can be 



placed along an airway and 
remote readout meter. 



wired to a 



4. Mechanism of Dust Explosion 
Suppression 

Objective : To determine the chemical 
and physical processes that underlie the 
flammability behavior of dusts and the 
effectiveness of powdered extinguishants 
in suppressing dust explosions. 

5. Ignition Hazard of Sintered 
Metal Brake Linings 

Objective : To determine the extent 
of methane ignition hazard when using 
sintered metallic friction components in 
the braking systems of underground coal 
mining equipment. If a hazard exists, to 
develop an evaluation method that in- 
cludes suggested guidelines. 

6. Mine (Fire) Ventilation Code, 
Modification and Maintenance 

Objective : To improve the applica- 
bility, utility, and acceptability of the 
mine (fire) ventilation simulation com- 
puter program developed by Michigan Tech- 
nological University (under contract 
JO285002) for the Bureau. 

7. Fire and Explosion Hazards of Large 
Diesel-Powered Mining Equipment 

Objective : To delineate problems as- 
sociated with the use of large mining 
equipment in gassy underground mines, to 
identify methods to make this equipment 
permissible for underground use, and to 
establish an in-house test capability to 
validate control technology. 

8. A Pneumatic Fire Detection System 
for Deep, Multilevel Shafts 

Objective : To evaluate and field- 
test a rapid, reliable fire detection 
system for underground mines with deep, 
multilevel shafts. 



Ignition Research 

9. Flammabillty and Spontaneous 

Combustion of Mine Combustibles 

Objective : To improve and simplify 
the Bureau's conveyor belt flammability 
apparatus, evaluate the flammability haz- 
ard of aerosol electrical spray cleaners, 
develop a small-scale flammability test 
for ventilation dust materials, and in- 
vestigate flame propagation of mine com- 
bustibles in a slope utilizing a tilting 
tunnel. To investigate the spontaneous 
combustion of coal, oil shale, and py- 
rites, develop reliable criteria for 
identifying self-heating hazards, and de- 
velop mathematical models of the sponta- 
neous combustion process in piles of 
coal, oil shales, and sulfide ores. 

10. Thermal and Electrical Ignition of 
Mineral Dusts 

Objective ; To delineate the do- 
mains of thermal and electrical ignit- 
ability of coal, oil shale, and other 
flammable mineral dusts. To determine 
the mechanisms of ignition, and to use 
these data to assess the hazards of sur- 
face facilities or other industrial oper- 
ations that use or generate flammable 
dusts. 



identify chemical and physical inhibitors 
and validate, first in larger scale labo- 
ratory tests and ultimately in mines, 
the ability of these inhibitors to pre- 
vent or retard sulfide oxidation and 
thereby reduce the probability of mine 
fires and the resultant loss of property 
and life. 

Suppression Research 

13. Laboratory Dust Flammability Testing 

Objective : To develop a reliable 
standard apparatus and procedure for 
evaluating the flammability limit igni- 
tion sensitivity and pressure development 
for dusts, gases, vapors, and their mix- 
tures. To test dust samples that are 
submitted from industry or other Govern- 
ment agencies, to correlate the data with 
full-scale studies in mines or large sur- 
face facilities, to investigate new in- 
hibitors as alternatives or supplements 
to rock dusting, to determine hazard 
classifications for oil shale 
to unify the diverse 
flammability behavior 
theory. 



dusts, and 
observations of 
into a coherent 



14. Microscopic Structure and 
Composition of Combustible 
Dusts and Residues 



11. Improved Bit Materials for 
Continuous Coal Mining Machines 

Objective : To reduce frictional 
ignitions by improving the materials or 
the configuration of materials used in 
coal cutter bits on continuous mining* 
machines. In particular, to verify the 
optimal fraction of nickel in the cobalt- 
nickel binder, used for the tungsten car- 
bide inserts, that will minimize fric- 
tional ignition. 

12. Pacification of Sulfide Oxidation 

Objective : To determine the kinet- 
ics and mechanisms of low-temperature ox- 
idation of sulfides, particularly pyrite, 
to identify the rate-controlling step(s). 
To apply the result of this study to 



Objective : To conduct quantitative 
microscopic structure studies, size dis- 
tributions, and composition analyses 
of various dusts with the scanning elec- 
tron microscope, and to apply the 
data obtained to combustion research and 
the forensic science of postdisaster 
investigation. 

15. Coal Mine Fire Protection System 
Component Ruggedization 

Objective : To expand and improve 
the fire sensing system installed in the 
Peabody No. 10 underground coal mine un- 
der Bureau of Mines — Engineering Systems 
Development Contract H0100017 by develop- 
ment of permissible or intrinsically safe 
components and inclusion of fire sensing 



capability in the south shaft. To assist 
commercialization of vehicle fire protec- 
tion systems previously developed under 
this project. 

16. Improved Mine Fire Protection 

Objective : To improve fire safety 
in underground metal and nonmetal mines 
through tests of improved early fire 
sensing and/or warning systems at FMC's 
Green River trona mine, Noranda's Lake- 
shore copper mine, Bunker Hill's silver 
mine, International Salt's Detroit salt 
mine, 
mine. 



and AMAX's Henderson molybdenum 



Propagation and Extinguishment Research 

17. Full-Scale Mine Explosions 

Objective : To conduct research on 
the propagation and suppression of full- 
scale explosions of dust and gas in ex- 
perimental mines, to test explosion-proof 
bulkheads, and to develop and maintain 
instrumentation in both the Bureau's 
experimental mine and the Lake Lynn 
Laboratory. 

18. Mine Fire Diagnostics 

Objective : To continue developing 
needed guidelines for safe reopening of a 
mine following sealing of a coal mine 
fire, to evaluate mine fire detection and 
suppression systems, and to evaluate 
full-scale fires involving other mine 
combustibles such as mine dusts, brattice 
curtains, and conveyor belts. 

19. Prevention and Suppression of 
Ignitions and Explosions 

Objective : To develop, test, and 
conduct field trials of (1) new tool 
bit materials and/or tool bit geometries 
for the prevention of face ignitions, 
(2) barriers for the suppression of face 



ignitions, and (3) of gas and coal dust 
explosion barriers. 

20. Fire and Explosion Hazards of Oil 
Shale and Oil Mining 

Objective : To continue to test fire 
and explosion hazard scenarios in large- 
scale tests involving bulk material and 
dust, to monitor methane emissions in 
operating oil shale mines and vapor and/ 
or mist hazards in oil mines, and to con- 
duct laboratory evaluations of spontane- 
ous combustion of oil shale and explosi- 
bility of retort gas and oil vapor. 

Methane Control 

Program Objectives : To develop, dem- 
onstrate, and transfer (1) technology 
that will prevent the formation of flam- 
mable methane-air mixtures in underground 
mine workings through improved ventila- 
tion and (2) procedures for degasifying 
the mineral deposit in advance of and 
during mining. To establish correlations 
between the geology of the mineral, adja- 
cent strata, and their gas content, and 
to use these correlations to predict 
methane emission hazards. 

Fundamental Factors 

1. Prediction of Coalbed 

Discontinuities To Increase 
Effectiveness of Drilling 
for Methane Drainage 

Objective : To determine fundamental 
geological criteria that can be used to 
predict the presence of coalbed disconti- 
nuities in advance of mining and to re- 
fine statistical techniques that can be 
used to evaluate the probability of en- 
countering discontinuities during methane 
drainage drilling. Particular emphasis 
will be placed upon those discontinuity 
characteristics that adversely affect 
methane drainage projects. 



10 



2. 



Influence of Geology on Occurrence 
and Emission of Methane in Coal 
Measures 



Objective ; To conduct geologic in- 
vestigations of gassy, minable coalbeds 
to determine the factors controlling the 
amount and distribution of methane and 
the effect on mining, to determine the 
gas contents of U.S. coalbeds and improve 
predictive techniques, to determine the 
influence of coal macerals on gas gener- 
ation and retention, and to aid in as- 
sessing the geologic feasibility of pro- 
posed methane drainage sites. 

3. The Origin and Geologic Influences on 
the Migration of Methane Into Metal 
and Nonmetal Mines 

Objective : To establish, by means 
of data obtained by in-mine and labora- 
tory studies, the stratigraphy and geo- 
logical structures that contribute to 
varying concentrations of gases within 
metal and nonmetal mines, to determine 
the composition of gases and the factors 
that influence the migration and reten- 
tion of these gases into metal and non- 
metal mines , and to develop predictive 
models for the occurrence of gassy 
areas within the ore bodies in advance of 
mining. 

Control in Advance of Mining 

4. Application of Vertical Borehole 
Methane Drainage to Mine Safety 

Objective : By demonstrating the fea- 
sibility of draining gas in advance of* 
mining from gassy coalbeds through verti- 
cal boreholes, to determine the effects 
of borehole spacing and methods of stimu- 
lation on reducing methane gas emissions 
into mine workings . 

Control During Mining 

5. Application of Horizontal Drilling 
Technology to Health and Safety 
Problems in Metal and Nonmetal Mines 

Ojective : To conduct detailed anal- 
yses of methods for locating and 



identifying gas-bearing zones in metal 
and nonmetal mines by drilling small- 
diameter holes in advance of mining, and 
to investigate techniques for reducing or 
eliminating the hazards associated with 
the rapid release of energy (outbursts) 
when mining encounters the gas-bearing 
zones. 

6. Development of Control Techniques 
Using Horizontal Boreholes 

Objective : To determine the effec- 
tiveness of long, horizontal boreholes in 
reducing methane levels during mining 
through natural drainage, and to deter- 
mine the application of drilling in ad- 
vance of mining to locate and identify 
areas such as clay veins , fault zones , 
and other coalbed discontinuities that 
may cause problems for future mining. 

7. Gob Degasification From Underground 
Locations 

Objective : To develop a method for 
controlling methane in gob areas of re- 
treating longwall panels by drilling 
small-diameter boreholes into the overly- 
ing strata from underground locations. 
Optimum spacing, length, and angle of 
holes above horizontal must be determined 
to extract the maximum quantity and puri- 
ty of methane from the gob and to prevent 
it from entering the ventilation system 
of the mine. Optimum design parameters 
for the gob drainage system will be de- 
veloped for geologic conditions above 
the Upper Kittanning Coalbed and within 
2 years for geologic conditions above the 
Pittsburgh Coalbed. 

8. Design of Horizontal Drilling 
Equipment for Increasing the 
Cost Effectiveness of Methane 
Drainage 

Objective : To design, develop, and 
improve horizontal drilling equipment and 
pipeline equipment for use underground 
that will improve methane drainage tech- 
nology and make it more reliable and 
cost-effective. 



11 



9. Ventilation In Control of Methane 

Objective : To develop improved ven- 
tilation methods for methane dilution 
in gassy coal, metal, and nonmetal mines. 
This includes techniques for increasing 
airflow as well as improved methods 
of assessing the degree of hazard that 
exists. 

10. Development of Improved Horizontal 
Hole Grouting Techniques 

Objective : To improve presently 
available techniques of grouting horizon- 
tal methane drainage holes. 

11. Assessment of the Potential for Gas 
Outburst Hazards in Coal Mines 

Objective : To generate criteria for 
evaluating and determining the potential 
for gas outbursts in coal mines. 

Ground Control 

Program Objectives : To conceive, 
develop, demonstrate, and transfer tech- 
nology that will prevent mine accidents 
attributable to falls of ground, out- 
bursts, slope failures, and collapse of 
waste impoundment structures. 

Mine Design and Development 

1. Delineation of Abandoned Mine 
Workings and Other Mining Hazards 
With Integrated Geophysics 

Objective : To field-test high- 
resolution seismics, acoustic seismics, 
radar, resistivity measurement, and 
controlled-source tellurics over known 
abandoned mine workings. The data from 
these tests will be processed with the 
latest integrated geophysics modeling, 
and reverified with onsite drilling. 

2. Computerized Remote Sensing 
Techniques for Detection of 
Potential Hazards in Mine 
Areas 

Objective : To refine and demon- 
strate to the mining industry the use 
and the advantages of a computerized 



lineament mapping technique for detecting 
geologic hazards, which may cause sudden 
inundation and roof falls. Also to eval- 
uate the correlation between linear fea- 
tures and mine hazards by comparing 
selected regional geophysical data and 
lineament information. 

3. Develop Improved Coal Mine 
Design Procedures 

Objective : To improve the MIN SIM 
(mine simulation) computer program for 
application to coal mine design, and dem- 
onstrate its use in designing safer coal 
mine openings, pillars, and extraction 
layouts. 

4. Evaluation of Room-and-Pillar 
Design Methods 

Objective : To validate theoretical 
and empirical pillar design methods with 
in-mine instrumentation, and prepare up- 
dated design guidelines for room-and- 
pillar coal mines. 

5. Entry Design for Longwall Mining 
on Steeply Pitching Coal Seams 

Objective : To demonstrate the appli- 
cation of computer modeling techniques to 
planning of an advancing longwall mining 
system in a steeply pitching coal seam, 
with emphasis on establishing an optimum 
safe entry width as a function of over- 
burden depth, evaluating a new concrete 
crib design, and determining acceptable 
packwall requirements. 

6. Face Slabbing Along High Longwall 
Faces in the Western United States 

Objective : To investigate the face 
slabbing problem along high longwall 
faces in the Western United States and 
devise remedial measures for controlling 
face slabbing in order to improve mine 
safety. 

7. Longwall Mining Design Parameters 

Objective : To determine the critical 
design parameters for safe longwall 
mining systems by measuring pillar con- 
straints, mining-induced load transfer, 



12 



roof and floor strata movements, and face 
support loads. 

8. Design of Single Entries for the 
Safe and Efficient Development 
of Steep Seam Longwall Panels 

Objective : To design a single- 
entry, retreat longwall mining system 
that may be applied to steep-seam coal 
mining for improving mine safety and 
productivity. 

9. Evaluate Borehole Instruments for 
Rock Mechanics Investigations 



Objective ; To 
ance and long-term 
types of borehole 
for rock mechanics 
loading conditions, 
effects of time and 
performance. 



evaluate the perform- 
stability of various 
instruments available 
study under biaxial 
and investigate the 
temperature on their 



10. Inexpensive Testing Techniques 
Used in Mines on Unprepared 
Rock and Coal Samples 

Objective ; To evaluate available 
in-mine testing methods for determining 
physical properties of coal and rocks 
from unprepared samples, and develop rec- 
ommended practices. 

11. Design of Mine Plans for Longwall 
Mining of Multiple-Seam Coal 
Reserves 

Objective ; To apply the numerical 
model analysis of mine structures to de- 
sign of multiple-seam longwall mining 
systems with emphasis on determining the 
optimum mining sequence and the overbur- 
den load transfer characteristics. 

1 2 . Development of Classification of 
Mine Roof According to Support 
Mechanism Efficiency 

Objective : To develop a systematic 
framework for classifying mine roofs 
based on the effective roof control 
techniques being used in mines and com- 
pile roof support selection guidelines. 



13. Anchorage of Inundation Bulkheads 
in Coal Mine Openings 

Objective : To test and evaluate 
various methods of anchoring inundation 
bulkheads in underground coal mine open- 
ings and develop technical guidelines 
for inundation bulkhead design and 
construction. 

14. Development of Design Procedure To 
Be Used in Layout of Workings in 
Multiple-Seam Mining Situations 

Objective : To develop a technique 
to assess the impacts of a mine layout in 
the vicinity of a previously mined seam, 
based on the case study of an active coal 
mine that is engaged in multiple-seam 
mining . 

15. Prediction of Unstable Mine Roof 
Based on Remote Sensing Analysis 

Objective : To verify the relation- 
ship between photolinears and unstable 
roofs and identify the hazardous geologic 
features associated with the photolinears 
in selected coal mines. 

16. Pressure Grouting To Control Water 
Seepage Through Barrier Pillars 
and Strata Surrounding Inundation 
Bulkheads 

Objective : To evaluate pressure 
grouting techniques as a means to control 
water seepage through barrier pillars and 
the roof, rib, and floor strata surround- 
ing an inundation bulkhead. Field tests 
of selected grouting methods and their 
effectiveness will be conducted. 

17. Ground Control Measures for Coal 
Mines Operating Under Mined-Out 
Areas 

Objective : To conduct a survey of 
past, current, and proposed ground con- 
trol measures for coal mines that are 
operating beneath previously mined-out 
areas, and establish a data base for 
ground control planning. 



13 



18. Effectiveness of Air-Tempering 
Entries in Reducing Shale Roof 
Disintegration 

Objective : To determine the long- 
term effectiveness of air-tempering en- 
tries in reducing shale roof disinte- 
gration at the Valley Camp No. 1 Mine, W. 
Va. , in order to confirm the benefits of 
the humidity control technique. 

19. Effects of Excessive Roof Loading 
on Mine Supports, Installations, 
and Openings 

Objective : To observe physical 
signs of excessive roof loading on vari- 
ous types of mine supports and mine 
structures, and compile an illustrated 
guide for identification of roof hazards. 

20. Hazardous Roof Structures and 
Special Support Techniques 

Objective : To conduct a survey haz- 
ardous geologic structures and associated 
coal mine roof conditions in the northern 
Appalachian coal region, and identify the 
support techniques best suitable for each 
particular roof condition. 

21. Model Studies and Field Verification 
of Roof Bolting Criteria 

Objective : To develop design guide- 
lines for mine roof reinforcement using 
mechanically anchored bolts , fully- 
grouted resin bolts, friction stabili- 
zers, inorganic-cement-grouted bolts, in- 
clined bolts, and roof truss systems. 
This work will be accomplished by collat- 
ing the results of full-scale model test- 
ing, finite-element computer analysis, 
and in-mine tests. 

22. Single-Entry Development Systems 
for Longwall Mining 



permit employing single-entry longwall 
mining concepts in the United States. 

23. Roof Stability Through Automated 
In-Mine Environmental Control 

Objective : To measure surface prop- 
erties of coal mine roof rocks and deter- 
mine swelling pressure and strain in 
rocks under dry and wet conditions in or- 
der to establish a technical basis for 
mine humidity control to achieve maximum 
roof stability. 

24. Blasting Parameters That Affect 
Highwall Stability 

Objective : To determine by field 
tests the effect of controllable blasting 
parameters on overbreak, and to develop a 
design guide for improved highwall sta- 
bility in surface coal mining. 

25. Engineering Recommendations for 
Geotechnical Investigations of 
Hazardous Ground 

Objective : To conduct a survey of 
geotechnical investigation practices in 
mining, tunneling, and civil engineering 
industries, and to identify the best 
practices for use in coal mines to pre- 
vent accidents due to unexpected ground 
failures. 

26. Analyses of Rock Fall and Geologic 
Hazard Data 

Objective : To search, retrieve, and 
analyze rock fall case histories, acci- 
dent reports and statistics, and ground 
control plans of underground coal mines 
to obtain an in-depth perspective on the 
conditions contributing to roof falls and 
roof fall accidents, evaluate the effec- 
tiveness of mine support, and identify 
future research needs. 



Objective : To develop alternative 
designs of single-entry development sys- 
tem for retreat longwall mining, complete 
synthesis of previous experimental data, 
and determine recommended variances in 
health and safety requirements that will 



27. Application of Geodynamic 

Accumulated Strain Sensor To In 
Situ Rock Stress Measurement 



Objective : To develop acoustic 
transducers for in situ rock stress 



14 



measurement based on the pulsed-phase- 
locked-loop technology that has been de- 
veloped by a cooperative effort between 
the Bureau and the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration. Field applica- 
tion of the geodynamic accumulated strain 
sensor will be demonstrated. 

28. Evaluation of Ground Stability 
Problems in Quarry Operations 

Objective ; To investigate ground 
movements and highwall stability at a co- 
operating slate quarry in eastern Penn- 
sylvania, and identify ground control 
problems associated with such quarry 
operations. Application of geotechnical 
engineering to quarry planning and opera- 
tions will be demonstrated. 

29. Mine Planning To Reduce Ground 
Control Problems and Rock Burst 
Hazards in Deep Vein Mines 

Objective : To perform a structural 
analysis of mine models of a variety of 
cut-and-fill mining methods for vein-type 
mineral deposits at great depths, using 
various combinations of mining systems, 
destressing techniques, stope geometries, 
excavation sequences, and fill materials 
for the purpose of reducing safety haz- 
ards inherent to deep vein mines. The 
use of flexible liners to prevent damage 
to raises, when rock preconditioning by 
blasting is used for rock burst control 
in the stope, will be investigated also. 

Hazard Detection and Monitoring Systems 

3 . Automated Roof Fall Warning System 

Objective : To evaluate the perform- 
ance of the prototype microseismic roof 
fall warning system at a variety of mine 
sites and transfer the innovated technol- 
ogy to the industry. 

3 1 . Coal Mine Bounce a nd Outb urst 
Studies 



Objective : To identify seisraicity 
patterns prior to coal mine bounces and 
outbursts using the digital microseismic 
monitoring and recording system developed 



by the Bureau, and demonstrate utiliza- 
tion of microseismic techniques for pre- 
diction and early warning of coal 
bounces and coal and gas outbursts at se- 
lected deep coal mines. 

32. Mine Roof Movement Warning System 

Objective : To evaluate the proto- 
type roof movement monitoring and warning 
system using a laser beam by a series of 
in-mine tests, and transfer the innovated 
technology to the industry. 

33. Application of In-Seam Seismic 
Techniques for Detection of 
Voids and Faults 

Objective : To establish the uses 
and limitations of seismic seam wave 
technology for detecting mine voids and 
faults ahead of the working face in U.S. 
coal mines. Emphasis will be placed on 
field acquisition of guided wave data un- 
der known geologic conditions, and on the 
determination of optimum field operation 
techniques and seismic source-detector 
configurations . 

34. Cleat Influence on Pillar Bursts 
in Coal 

Objective : To investigate the rela- 
tionship between coal cleat characteris- 
tics and coal bump potential, and develop 
a practical method that will enable 
miners to identify potential hazards by a 
quick inspection of coal seams. 

35. Mine Inundation Warning Systems 

Objective : To investigate methods 
and equipment capable of providing a 
warning in the event of mine inunda- 
tion. The best suitable instrumentation 
will be tested in mines to evaluate its 
effectiveness. 

36. Deconvolution as a Technique for 
Pe rformance Improvement of the 
Synthetic Pulse Radar Met hod 

Obj ective : To develop signal en- 
hancement techniques for the synthetic 
pulse radar being developed under a 



15 






Bureau contract for coal mine hazard de- 
tection, using a deconvolution method 
based on computer analyses of physical 
models. The theoretical studies will be 
validated by a laboratory experiment 
using liquid-filled coaxial waveguide 
sections to simulate subsurface media. 

37. Develop and Demonstrate Ultrasonic 
Closure Rate and Roof Fall 
Prediction Device 

Objective : To field-test an intrin- 
sically safe ultrasonic roof-to-floor 
closure rate measuring device which is 
nonobstructing for use in haulageways and 
other high-traffic areas for early pre- 
diction of roof falls. The test results 
will be compared with those of an elec- 
tronic closure rate measuring device 
using potentiometric extensometers. 

38. In-Mine Hazard and Bad Roof 
Detection Systems 

Objective : To fabricate a cross- 
roof acoustic system and an impact 
hammer-accelerometer system, which have 
been designed by the Bureau, for detect- 
ing hazardous roof conditions in coal 
mines. Their performance will be evalu- 
ated by laboratory and field tests. 

39. Prediction and Control of Rock 
Bursts and Failures in Mines 

Objective : To conduct coordinated 
research in the application of microseis- 
mic techniques to prediction of cata- 
strophic ground failures in deep vein 
mines. The tasks include continuous mon- 
itoring of microseismic activity from 
burst-prone stopes using a digital micro- 
seismic monitoring and recording system, 
analysis of the field data to determine 
seismicity patterns prior to a rock 
burst, verification of the reliability of 
rock burst prediction and warning, evalu- 
ation of a portable rock burst monitor 
and ultrasonic sensors as a supplement to 
the main microseismic rock burst monitor- 
ing system, and a feasibility study of 
developing a laser-based microseismic 
transducer. 



40. Develop Fiber Optic Transmission 
System for Seismic Events 

Objective : To improve the transmis- 
sion of seismic data from a rock burst 
monitoring system in electrically noisy 
mediums by eliminating all electrical 
connections between the transducer and 
the recording instrument and replacing it 
with fiber optic transmission. Fiber op- 
tic links will be designed and installed 
for a microseismic geophone network for 
field evaluation. 

41. Detection of Rock Fall Hazards 
Utilizing Electromagnetic 
Sensors 

Objective : To evaluate the perform- 
ance of a prototype ground penetrating 
radar which has been designed and con- 
structed by the Bureau for detecting roof 
and rock fall hazards in mines. The pro- 
totype unit will be tested in selected 
underground metal, nonmetal, and coal 
mines. If the test results prove suc- 
cessful, an attempt will be made to re- 
package the ground penetrating radar into 
a simplified portable and permissible 
unit. 



Roof Support Systems 

42. Inorganic Grout for Coal Mine Roofs 

Objective : To develop practical 
systems for installing fully grouted coal 
mine roof bolts with fast-set inorganic 
cements. Material properties for the 
inorganic full-column roof bolt systems 
will be determined, and field tests will 
be conducted on the water microcapsule 
and gypsum cement cartridges in selected 
mines . 

43. Effectiveness of Angle Bolting 
To Support Cutter-Type Roof 

Objectiv e: To provide the mining 
industry with an effective method of sup- 
porting cutter-type (shear or snap top) 
roof using angle bolting. 



16 



44. Inorganic Grout — Material Study 

Objective : To provide a fundamental 
analysis of hydrocal plaster, quantify 
chemical and mechanical properties of 
Hydrocal-water capsule reaction products, 
and examine the special qualities and 
problems of the Hydrocal-water capsule 
system for grouting roof bolts. 

45. Field Evaluation of Existing and 
Innovative Roof Bolt Elements 

Objective : To complete documenta- 
tion of comparative bolt properties for 
innovative roof bolts so that these bolt- 
ing systems can be evaluated by compari- 
son to standard parameters previously 
established. Secondly, determine in situ 
performance of novel bolting systems 
through in-mine testing. 

46. Effects of Bolt Installation 
Procedures on Mine Roof Stability 

Objective : To determine required 
resin-column length for insuring integ- 
rity of resin-grouted bolts, evaluate the 
Energy and Minerals Research Co. ultra- 
sonic stress device for testing resin- 
grouted bolts , and complete the evalu- 
ation of the effects of installation 
procedures on resin-grouted bolts. 



with different size rebar grouted in 
holes drilled in concrete blocks with a 
1-3/8-inch drill (commonly used in metal 
and nonmetal mines). 

49. Evaluation of Plates on Resin- 
Grouted Roof Bolts 

Objective : To perform field tests 
to determine the effectiveness of plates 
used with resin-grouted bolts. 

50. Modular Concrete Post Design 
and Development 

Objective : Utilizing the basic 
technology developed in the steel fiber 
reinforced concrete crib program, to de- 
velop sectionalized concrete posts for 
mine roof support. 

51. The Investigation and Development 
of Face Protection Systems To 
Control Existing Hazardous 

Roof Conditions on Longwalls 

Objective : To develop and evaluate 
techniques to minimize the hazards cre- 
ated by the fall of friable roof at long- 
wall faces. 

52. Anchorage Problems With 
Resin-Grouted Roof Bolts 



47. Mine Roof Stabilization Using 
Inorganic Chemical Bonding 

Objective : To develop chemical 
binders and methods of application to 
mine roofs to increase the mine roof sta- 
bility, with special attention to poten- 
tial inorganic binders. 

48. Inorganic Grouted Rock Bolts 



Objective : To perform laboratory 
investigations on the problems of glove 
fingering and insufficient grout with 
fully grouted roof bolts. 

53. Yielding Mine Roof Supports 

Objective : To develop a high- 
strength cylindrical roof support that 
yields in a controlled manner. 



Objective : To develop an inorganic 
grout system suitable for the large bolt 
holes commonly drilled in metal and non- 
metal mines. The initial task will be 
to identify reasons for poor anchorage of 
small-diameter bolts grouted in large- 
diameter holes. Pull tests will be made 



54. Concrete Crib Field Test 

Objective : To complete final test- 
ing and report on the project. The re- 
port will contain results of laboratory 
and field tests and discuss commerciali- 
zation of the cribs. 



17 



55. Sealants To Stop Shale Degradation — 
Long-Term Evaluation 

Objective ; In cooperation with a 
mine operator, to monitor the long-term 
weathering ability of several shale 
sealants. 

56. Evaluation of Roof Trusses 

Objective : To test a device devel- 
oped under a Bureau contract for deter- 
mining the tension in horizontal truss 
rods. 



instrument to determine the strength loss 
of rotted timber. 

61. Control-Prevention of Ignitions 
From Light Metals Impact 

Objective : To determine the feasi- 
bility of alloy modification and/or pro- 
tective coatings on mining equipment made 
of aluminum alloys to prevent or retard 
ignition potential. To determine the 
causes of ignition-inducing reaction 
arising from the rubbing impact of light 
metals and steels. 



57. Support Systems for High 
Underground Openings in 
Thick Coalbeds 

Objective : To investigate various 
support systems for high development 
openings in underground coal mines. 

58. Analysis of Various Tunnel 
Linear Shapes 

Objective : To develop engineering 
data to determine most effective and ef- 
ficient tunnel liner shapes for use in 
resupport work where roof falls have 
occurred. 






59. Minimum Column Lengths for 
Resin-Grouted Bolts in 
Evaporites 



Objective : To determine the minimum 
column lengths required to ensure safe 
working conditions when rock conditions 
are such that some grout is forced out 
into the rock mass. 

Safe Support Installation 

60. Determination of Decay in Mine 
Timber 

Objective : To test the timber decay 
system developed under contract HO202009 
to evaluate the effectiveness of the 



62. Field Test and Modification of 
Lightweight Hydraulic Props 

Objective : To complete long-term 
field testing of lightweight props and 
modify them, if necessary, to improve 
the safety of handling and support func- 
tions in various seam heights and mining 
conditions. 



63. Preparation of Longwall Support 
Selection Guide 

Objective : To prepare for the min- 
ing industry a guide for selecting the 
optimum longwall support system for a 
particular set of mining conditions. 

64. Retreat Mining Methods — Field Study 

Objective : To identify changing 
ground conditions during various retreat 
mining operations and provide guidelines 
for uniform safety practices during re- 
treat mining by FY 85. Instrumentation 
will be installed at two sites during 
development and retreat mining to monitor 
stress patterns and convergence during 
the various mining sequences. Observa- 
tions and mine inquiries will be made 
along with instrument monitoring at the 
test sites to gain a better understanding 
of the ground conditions, method of oper- 
ation, and hazards associated with re- 
treat pillaring operations. 



18 



65. Backfill Material for Tunnel Liners 

Objective : To test and write speci- 
fications and recommendations for the use 
of backfill material (in conjunction with 
specific liner geometry) that is used to 
insulate tunnel liners from the impact 
loading of roof falls through the absorp- 
tion of energy and redistribution of 
loads. 

66. Metallurgy Evaluations 

Objective : In coordination with 
MSHA Technical Support, to establish and 
maintain a program at the Bureau's Rolla 
Research Center for metallurgical evalu- 
ation of roof-rock bolts and other steel 
supports. 



gateroad entries, based on underground 
tests and data collection. 

71. Ground Control Accident Data 
Evaluation and Analysis 

Objective : To examine ground con- 
trol accident reports to determine trends 
and significance of conditions and cir- 
cumstances contributing to accidents and 
fatalities. 

72. Equipment Evaluation 

Objective : To develop in-house ca- 
pability for evaluation and modification 
of ground control equipment, monitor on- 
going ground control equipment perform- 
ance and tests. 



67. Corrosion of Metallic Roof Support 
Elements 

Objective : To develop guidelines to 
aid MSHA and mining personnel in predict- 
ing the life of roof support systems, de- 
termine detrimental effects of corrosive 
mine environments on friction rock stabi- 
lizers (split set), and help identify po- 
tential control measures. 

6 8 . Improved Roof Sounding Techniques 

Objective : To develop a piece of 
hardware that can be easily used to de- 
termine the competency of roof rock in 
mines. This device may be either incor- 
porated in a scaling bar or a stand-alone 
device. 

69. Scaling Technology « 



73. Support of Thick Coal Roof 

Objective : To determine analytical- 
ly and through field tests the perform- 
ance of various roof support systems when 
used in coal mine roofs where the major 
portion of the immediate roof is a thick 
layer of coal. 

74. Evaluation of Ultrasonic Elongation 
Measurement Instrumentation 

Objective : To evaluate a commer- 
cially available instrument to determine 
its suitability for underground use. 

Mining and Minerals Processing Waste 
Stability 

7 5 . Evaluation of Filter Cloth for 
Stabilization of Coal Mine Wastes 



Objec t ive : To develop a safer, more 
effective, and less strenuous means of 
scaling mine roof and ribs by testing, 
analyzing, and modifying, if necessary, 
scaling tools developed from previous 
contracts. 

7 . Investigation of Longwa l l Gateroad 
Roof Support Characte r istics 

Objective : To complete the devel- 
opment of rational design criteria and 
support system techniques for longwall 



Objective : To provide safer, longer 
lasting dams of coal mine waste materials 
through the use of filter media to con- 
trol seepage. The immediate objective is 
to evaluate criteria for selection of 
filter cloth and test the filters under 
simulated mine waste dam environments. 
Also, to evaluate the deterioration of 
the cloths by sunlight and chemicals used 
in coal preparation plants and investi- 
gate possible unidirectional flow in some 
filter cloths. 



19 



I 



76. Microseismic Monitoring of Waste 
Dam Stability 

Objective : Using existing micro- 
seismic equipment and previously devel- 
oped techniques, to install a system and 
monitor a waste embankment to demonstrate 
and define the limits and use of micro- 
seismic techniques for determining the 
stability of waste dams. 

77. Effects of Horizontal Drains on 
Phreatic Surface and Factor 

of Safety 

Objective : To model the effects of 
horizontal drains on the phreatic surface 
in mine waste embankments using an exist- 
ing finite element code. For various em- 
bankment conditions, to determine optimum 
spacing and drain length to enhance sta- 
bility and compare results with those at 
two existing embankments using horizontal 
drains. 

78. Analytic Techniques — Waste Disposal 

Objective : To conduct a field trial 
for determination of the factor of safety 
at a large waste embankment using a pro- 
babilistic slope stability analysis tech- 
nique previously developed. To compare 
results using the probabilistic technique 
with those using traditional factor-of- 
safety analyses. Field and laboratory 
work will be undertaken to determine geo- 
technical properties of the embankment 
materials. 

79. Electrokinetic Technique for 
Stabilizing Coal Sludge Ponds 

Objective : To conduct a field test 
using electrokinetic techniques to de- 
water an abandoned coal waste sediment 
pond so as to allow effective reclamation 
or potential resource recovery in ponds 
containing fine coal with high heat- 
ing values. This technique will be used 
to demonstrate the dewatering of 350 to 
400 tons of coal sludge per day at a pow- 
er cost of about $2/ton. 



80. Consolidation of Coal-Clay Wastes by 
Improved Flocculation Techniques 

Objective : To demonstrate the tech- 
nical feasibility of using an improved 
flocculation technique to dewater waste 
coal sludge generated in coal preparation 
plants to produce a consolidated, stable 
waste material that can be safely dis- 
posed of. A field test unit will be 
operated at a cooperating coal prepara- 
tion plant at the rate of 300 to 500 gpm. 
The feasibility of mixing dewatered 
coal sludge with coarse coal refuse mate- 
rial for long-term stabilization of waste 
products will also be determined. 

81. Compaction Criteria for Metal 
and Nonmetal Wastes 

Objective : To determine the com- 
paction characteristics of metal and 
nonmetal tailings. Optimum layer thick- 
ness, densities, and compactive effort 
will be developed on an operating waste 
embankment . 

Industrial Hazards 

Program Objectives : To (1) deter- 
mine how the quality of training can be 
increased to ensure miners can do their 
tasks safely and productively, (2) define 
the role of the human in all aspects of 
tasks required during the mining cycle, 

(3) determine how the human can be pro- 
tected from the hazards of mining, 

(4) determine what information must be 
available to the miner and at what level 
to increase safety, and (5) determine 
what information must be available to re- 
flect the human requirements in equipment 
designed for mining. 

Human Factors 

1. Computerized Index of Available 
Training 

Objective : To complete the develop- 
ment of a computerized index of train- 
ing materials and aids available from 



20 



Government, academia, 
and industry. 



labor , management , 



for recognizing dangerous and 
and rib conditions. 



safe roof 



2. Development of Criteria for 
Evaluating New Hire and 
Annual Refresher Training 

Objective : To continue to identify, 
field-test, and document performance cri- 
teria to be achieved via training man- 
dated under 30 CFR, part 48. 

3. Research To Reduce Back Injuries 
in the Mining Industry 

Objective ; To review existing train- 
ing and education plans, determine the 
nature and type of back injuries common 
in underground mining; and develop a 
model program to reduce back injuries. 

4. Human Factors Design of Mining Work 
Stations and Operator Compartments 

Objective : To develop a computer 
model for researching the man-machine 
interaction in mining machines and devel- 
opment of procedures for work station 
design. 

5. Workshop Series on Critical Human 
Resources in the Mining Industry 

Objective : To bring together in a 
series of workshops the most active re- 
searchers involved in research about the 
human aspects of work in the coal indus- 
try that affect safety, absenteeism, and 
productivity. 

6. Organizational Behavior Research ♦ 

Objective : To research the relation- 
ship between organizational variables and 
mining accidents and injuries. 

7. Feasibility Study on the Use of 
Visual Skills Training in Hazard 
Recognition for Underground Miners 

Objective : To investigate the poten- 
tial for training new miners to develop 
visual search and discrimination skills 



8. Development of Performance Measures 
for Underground Equipment Operators 

Objective : To assess the feasibil- 
ity of developing a standarized method of 
performance evaluation for underground 
equipment operators. 

9. Human Factors in Surface Mining 
Safety 

Objective : To identify human fac- 
tors relating to surface mine safety 
problems and provide background infor- 
mation to help correct these human- 
factors-related safety problems in the 
areas of safety motivation and training 
strategies. 

10. Computer Based Training 

Objective : To investigate the fea- 
sibility of conducting individualized, 
competency-based training utilizing com- 
mercially available microprocessors. 

11. Fundamental Causes of Mine Accidents 

Objective : To define the fundamen- 
tal causes of mine accidents and deter- 
mine corrective actions. 

12. Advanced Advertising Techniques 
for Miner Safety Training 

Objective : To utilize the most ad- 
vanced advertising techniques available 
as a basis for a low-cost, in-mine, pas- 
sive safety program to improve miner 
safety. 

Electrical 

13. Intrinsic Safety 

Objective : To investigate problems 
related to a basic understanding of in- 
trinsic safety, supply technical support 
to Bureau of Mines researchers, contrac- 
tors, and MSHA, and participate in 



21 



national and international committees to 
develop recommendations and standards for 
using electrical equipment in potentially 
explosive atmospheres. 

14. Electrical Equipment, Devices, 
and Systems 

Objective : To conduct preliminary 
investigations and final evaluations rel- 
ative to contracted research and design 
tasks in the field of mine electrical 
systems and devices, and to pursue in- 
house basic research for the general im- 
provement of metal and nonmetal mine 
electrical safety. 

15. Explosion-Proof Enclosures 

Objective : To (1) determine mini- 
mum safe electrical clearances between 
uninsulated live conductors used in 
explosion-proof enclosures for voltages 
greater than 2,000 V and (2) investigate 
the mechanisms by which high-power arcs 
affect internal pressures in explosion- 
proof enclosures containing potting 
material. 

16. DC Power Systems 

Objective : To demonstrate the ef- 
fectiveness of the discriminating circuit 
breaker protection system by implementa- 
tion of the system on a 1-mile test sec- 
tion in an active mine, evaluate sensi- 
tive ground fault interruptors and dead 
front panel construction techniques, and 
begin construction of a new cable reel 
tensioning device. 

17. Handbook for Improved Mine Equipment 
Battery Safety 

Objective : To produce a practical 
handbook on battery safety for large sur- 
face mobile mining equipment. Emphasis 
will be placed on preventing electrical 
shock, fires, acid burns, and explosions. 
Guidelines for implementing a battery 
safety program at mine sites will be 
developed. 



Mine Equipment Safety 

18. Assessment of the Role of Mining 
Equipment Rebuild Shops in Bureau 
of Mines Technology Transfer 
Activities 

Objective : To study, evaluate, and 
optimize the role of underground coal 
mining equipment rebuild shops in trans- 
ferring the results of Bureau research 
into industry practice. The main objec- 
tives of the continued effort will be to 
expand a directory of rebuild shops and 
to work more closely with cooperating 
rebuild shops to incorporate Bureau- 
developed research into their operations. 

19. Participation in the Institute of 
Shaft Drilling Technology (ISDT) 

Objective : To coordinate Bureau re- 
search results and participate with in- 
dustry in the advancement of safer shaft 
sinking practices. 

20. Extended Field Validation for the 
Front-End Loader Stability Indicator 

Objective : To validate the utility 
of the front-end loader stability indi- 
cator with extended field operation and 
to increase manufacturer interest in the 
system for commercial production. 

21. Development of Technology To Reduce 
Equipment-Related Accidents 

Objective : To provide the mining 
industry with solutions to selected 
equipment safety problems and to provide 
advanced technology to minimize human ex- 
posure to mining hazards. This will be 
accomplished by development of devices to 
sense the presence of workers near dan- 
gerous equipment situations, identifica- 
tion and investigation of special cab and 
canopy problems, validation of automatic 
steering technology for selected mining 
equipment , and development of apparatus 
to minimize human labor for selected dan- 
gerous mining situations. 



22 



22. Assessment of Canopy Performance In 
the Underground Mining Industry 

Objective ; To determine and vali- 
date if limited coverage protective 
structures can be successfully employed 
in low-seam mining conditions and not ad- 
versely affect operator visibility and 
comfort. To assess the need for operator 
side protection on underground mining 
equipment. 

23. Mobile Equipment Maintenance Safety 

Objective : To determine and quan- 
tify hazards and causes of maintenance- 
and repair-related accidents on large 
surface mining equipment. To prepare a 
report on recommendations for new mainte- 
nance methods, maintenance equipment, or 
modified designs to improve safety during 
machine maintenance. 

24. Underground Equipment Brake 
Performance Evaluation 



28. Collision Protection Systems 

Objective : To develop and validate 
techniques that reduce the vehicle colli- 
sion hazard in surface mines. 

Illumination 

29. Illumination Reseach 

Objective : To determine the poten- 
tial benefits of the proposed MSHA sur- 
face mine illumination standards, develop 
low-glare lighting sources and systems 
for use in underground coal mines (parti- 
cularly for thin-seam applications), de- 
velop a reflectance determination pro- 
cedure for underground metal and nonmetal 
mines , and develop technology needed 
to enable the underground metal and non- 
metal industry to provide adequate and 
effective illumination systems for its 
workforce. 

Mine Communications and Monitoring 



Objective : To determine braking dy- 
namics of underground mining and to clas- 
sify them according to machine type. 

25. Operator Protection for Surface 
Mining Equipment 

Objective : To validate the Bureau- 
developed safety vest restraint system 
and the improved seat design to provide 
equipment operators with comfort and 
restraint in the event of rollover or 
collision. 

26. Surface Mine Equipment Safety 

Objective : To improve surface mine 
mobile equipment safety. The effective- 
ness of Bureau-developed driver alertness 
monitors and improved ladder systems will 
be evaluated. 

27. Robotics Research Program 

Objective : To investigate the ap- 
plicability of robotics for solving safe- 
ty problems related to mining and to keep 
abreast of current robotics technology. 



30. Performance Standards and Systems 
Approach to Mine Monitoring 

Objective : To conduct investiga- 
tions and analyses, collect data, evalu- 
ate hardware, and maintain a base of 
knowledge in support of continuous, re- 
mote mine monitoring. Specific areas of 
concern include reliability performance, 
system safety, cost and benefits, data 
security, performance specifications, and 
the impact of regulations on monitoring 
systems. 

31. Multirange Prototype Methane 
Monitor Study 

Objective : To develop a multirange 
0% to 5%, 0% to 100% methane fixed-point 
transducer prototype. 

32. Mine Telemetry and Environmental 
Surveillance Systems 

Objective : To perform an extensive 
in-mine evaluation and data gathering of 
current mine monitoring validation proj- 
ects and to investigate color graphic 



23 



display for rapid visual display of 
alarms indicating mine emergencies. 



an effective electromagnetic nondestruc- 
tive testing method for wire ropes. 



33. Underground Communications Systems 

Objective : To develop and field- 
validate a variety of special techniques, 
systems, and hardware for the pur- 
pose of improving underground mine 
communications . 

Haulage and Materials Handling 

34. Wire Rope and Hoisting Research 
Program 

Objective : To operate the Wire Rope 
Laboratory to collect the data necessary 
to evaluate nondestructive testing de- 
vices and develop criteria for identify- 
ing and accurately measuring the degrada- 
tion of wire rope. 

35. Materials Handling Equipment 
Development 

Objective : To investigate methods 
by which various facets of mine materials 
handling and haulage activities can be 
made less labor intensive, thus reducing 
the probability of accidents. 

36. Evaluation of Nondestructive Testing 
Equipment and Methods Using a 
Laboratory Standard 

Objective : To develop a laboratory 
standard rope incorporating a range of 
anomalies that can occur and begin evalu- 
ation of nondestructive testing devices. 

37. Corrosion Rating Standard For Wire 
Rope 

Objective : To research and develop 
a corrosion standard for wire rope to be 
used by the mining industry to evaluate 
and designate the degree of corrosion 
degradation in a consistent manner. 

38. Electromagnetic Nondestructive 
Testing of Wire Rope 

Objective : To formulate a program 
plan for the research and development of 



39. Effect of Unsafe Parameters on Wire 
Rope Life Using the University of 
Illinois Computer Model 

Objective : To develop a better un- 
derstanding of wire rope behavior by per- 
forming a computer analysis using varying 
rope parameters and defining the parame- 
ters necessary for further destructive 
testing. 

40. Self-Centering Coupler for Track 
Haulage Vehicles 

Objective : To lessen the possibil- 
ity of injury during coupling and uncou- 
pling operations by designing, fabri- 
cating, and testing a coupler centering 
device capable of centering most coupler- 
truck combinations, thereby eliminating 
the need for manual coupler alignment. 

41. Conveyor Safety 

Objective : To develop improved 
shutoff and lockout hardware, and inves- 
tigate alternatives to unsafe conveyor- 
related work practices, such as conveyor 
man-trip usage and startup warning proce- 
dures to reduce the number of conveyor- 
related accidents. 

42. Laboratory Analysis of Wire Rope 

Objective : To define the mechanical 
and chemical characteristics of wire rope 
that affect its degradation in mine 
hoisting and determine mechanisms of 
hoist rope deterioration through labora- 
tory analysis of new and used wire ropes. 
To relate the results to manufacturing 
procedures, rope construction, or in— use 
procedures in order to improve the 
performance and safety of wire rope used 
in mining. 

43. Wire Rope Cleaning and Lubrication 

Objective : To categorize cleaning 
and lubrication techniques into groups 
such as specific applications, effective- 
ness, cost, and commercial availability, 



24 



and to develop a plan for evaluating rope 
lubricants and lubricating techniques. 

Postdisaster 

Program Objectives : To develop 
technology that will (1) enable survivors 
of a mine disaster to escape from the 
mine or to survive while awaiting rescue 
by providing protection against toxic 
and/or oxygen-deficient atmospheres, 

(2) aid in the location of miners trapped 
underground, using seismic and electro- 
magnetic means of communication, and 

(3) facilitate postdisaster rescue and 
recovery operations through surface moni- 
toring of conditions underground, emer- 
gency communications, and mechanized 
transport and lifesupport equipment for 
mine reentry and rescue operations. 

Survival 

1. Development of Life Support 
Technology 

Objective ; To develop technology 
that maximizes the likelihood that a 
miner will survive a mine disaster and to 
improve the safety and efficiency of mine 
rescue and recovery missions. 

2. Long-Term Field Evaluation of 
Self-Contained Self-Rescuers 

Objective : To determine if the 
testing procedures recommended by the 
manufacturers for self-contained self- 
rescuers (SCSR's) are adequate and to 
study the effects of long-term mine stor- 
age on SCSR performance. 

Communications 

3. Trapped Miner Location and 
Communication 



Rescue and Mine Recovery 

4. A Medium-Frequency System for In-Mine 
Location, Communication, and Rescue 

Objective : To develop a MF communi- 
cation system that will work in conjunc- 
tion with breathing apparatus used by 
mine rescue teams. 

Explosives 

Program Objectives : To assess the 
problems associated with the safe and ef- 
fective use of explosives in all types of 
mining activity including fixed explo- 
sives, blasting agents, blasting devices, 
and blasting accessories. To conduct 
fundamental studies of explosive behavior 
and apply the results in the development 
of new technology. To develop new and 
improved test procedures as new mining 
methods are introduced and new types of 
explosives are formulated. 

1. Review of Blasting Practices in Gassy 
Noncoal Mines 

Objective : To recommend safe blast- 
ing practices for gassy noncoal mines and 
recommend research needed to develop im- 
proved blasting practices for these 
mines. To examine current and proposed 
blasting practices in gassy noncoal mines 
to identify hazardous practices. 

2. Development of Improved Blasting 
Procedures 

Objective : To develop improved safer 
blasting procedures for use in metal and 
nonmetal mines. To make recommendations 
during FY 83 for preventing misfire acci- 
dents through examination of the causes 
of misfires, methods of detection, and 
techniques for disposing of misfires. 



Objective : To develop emergency de- 
tection and location systems for postdis- 
aster rescue efforts, evaluate hardware 
for these rescue efforts, and provide 
technical assistance to contractors con- 
ducting field test programs. 



3. Determination of Recommended Blasting 
Products and Procedures in Gassy 
Noncoal Mines 

Objective : To generate experimental 
information as a basis for developing 



25 



guidelines and standards for nonincendive 
explosives and blasting agents and per- 
missible blasting practices in oil, oil 
shale, and other noncoal mines having 
potential gas or dust explosion hazard. 

4. Investigation of Explosives Products 
Involved in Coal and Noncoal Mine 
Accidents 



on nonelectric initiating systems, and 
(5) further develop the thermal explosion 
tests, for large-size samples, to deter- 
mine at which temperature decomposition 
or explosion occurs. 

8. Generation of Hazard Criteria and 
Test Procedures for Explosive 
Products 



Objective : To provide supporting re- 
search for accident investigations and on 
potentially hazardous situations, prod- 
ucts, or practices identified by MSHA 
and so to establish guidelines for the 
development, clarification, revision, or 
enforcement of related safety standards. 

5. Analysis of Mine Blasting Accidents 

Objective : To insure that the Bureau 
research effort is directed toward the 
real causes of blasting accidents by ana- 
lyzing coal mine blasting accidents. 
This effort will include analysis of 
metal and nonmetal mine accidents. 

6. Improvements of Nonincendive 
Explosive Charge for Unconfined 
Shooting 

Objective : To develop and test ver- 
sions of the nonincendive explosive 
charge for applications where the current 
prototype would not be suitable. For ap- 
plications such as breaking larger or 
smaller stone slabs, or dislodging hung- 
up roof rock, it would be advantageous to 
develop larger and smaller charges and 
thin charges that will fit into crevices 
in the stone. 

7. Fire Hazard Evaluation of Explosives 
and Blasting Agents 

Objective : To (1) perform large- 
scale fire tests on materials normally 
classified as blasting agents to verify 
previous work on the development of fire 
hazard estimation procedures, (2) develop 
information in the area of sensitivity to 
direct electrical stimuli, (3) perform 
routine thermal tests in connection with 
accident investigations and new blast- 
ing materials, (4) perform thermal tests 



Objective : To (1) perform an evalu- 
ation and comparison of the character- 
istics of all types of nonelectric ini- 
tiating systems, (2) evaluate new explo- 
sives and blasting accessories, (3) in- 
vestigate merits of (a) vented versus 
unvented "drop trailers" used as stor- 
age facilities for blasting materials 
and (b) grounded versus nongrounded ex- 
plosive storage magazines, and (4) devel- 
op improved capability for testing and 
assessing the sensitivity of blasting 
materials. 

9. Basic Research on Initiation and 
Propagation of Detonation 

Objective : To formulate explosive 
criteria that reflect the interrelation- 
ship of explosive characteristics, explo- 
sive states, stimulation mechanisms, and 
reaction modes. This work would involve 
research experiments with different rela- 
tionships between pulse characteristics 
(form, strength, duration, impulse, etc.) 
and theoretical model development in- 
tended to correlate explosive properties 
with the salient pulse characteristics. 

10. Investigation of Pressure 

Desensitization of Permissible 
Explosives 

Objective : To update current and 
develop new schedules and standards as 
needs arise for permissible explo- 
sives and related articles, stemming de- 
vices, and blasting devices. To recom- 
mend changes to MSHA for the purpose of 
providing safer and more effective explo- 
sives and devices. To extend basic 
knowledge by investigating mechanisms 
involved in and associated with pres- 
sure desensitization and performance of 
explosion. 



26 



11. Evaluation of New Permissible 

Explosives and Develop Improved 
Permissible Coal Mine Explosives 



Objective ; To continue evaluating 
explosives and explosive devices for 
underground coal mine use. To monitor 
field samples for conformance with their 
basic specifications. To research those 
items that will improve the safety and 
performance of coal mine explosives, in- 
cluding the relatively new water gel and 
water emulsion permissibles. 

Systems Engineering 

Program Objectives : To develop 
methods for evaluating the impact of spe- 
cific technological improvements or in- 
adequacies on the total mining operations 
and identify problems whose solutions 
would provide the greatest health and 
safety benefit. To operate and maintain 
underground research and test facilities 
for use in testing and demonstrating new 
procedures and equipment before they are 
tested in commercial mines. 



into cost statistics, (2) identify exist- 
ing (statistical or other) types of meth- 
odologies appropriate for analyzing these 
data, (3) simplify run procedures on 
(1) so that any interested person may 
conduct the on-line retrieval and analy- 
sis, (4) conduct correlation statistics 
among various accident statistics and 
mine characteristics, (5) identify useful 
information that can be obtained from the 
data and methodologies, and (6) apply the 
technique to real situations and extract 
information from the mine accident data 
bases by applying the latest statistical 
techniques designed for categorical data 
(a characteristic of some of the mine 
accident data) . 

4. Cost Effectiveness of Bureau- 
Developed Methane Drainage 
Techniques and Other Technology 

Objective : To study the cost and 
benefits of the different methane drain- 
age techniques and to forecast trends in 
mining systems impacting on or being im- 
pacted by methane control. 



Systems Analysis 

1. Risk Analysis of Job Tasks and Other 
Mining Activities 

Objective : To determine for current 
high-risk tasks and other mining activi- 
ties if risk is decreasing or increasing 
with time. To continue studying risk and 
supplementary techniques that aid plan- 
ning research programs using HSAC data. 

2. Health and Safety Considerations of 
Novel Mining Systems 

Objective : To review and assess the 
state-of-the-technology of selected novel 
mining systems beginning to emerge. 

3. Information Retrieval System for 
Costs of Mine Accidents and 
Applications 

Objective : To provide information to 
the mining industry and researchers for 
making decisions. To (1) convert the 
1981 and 1982 HSAC accident statistics 



5. Demonstration of Sheathed Explosive 
Charge Blasting Practices 

Objective : To develop instrumenta- 
tion to evaluate and demonstrate the 
sheathed explosive charge. 

6. Hazard Analysis of Underground Mining 

Objective : To (1) develop recommen- 
dations for new technology or modifica- 
tions of current practices to reduce the 
roof fall hazard to personnel making 
methane measurements at the coal face, 

(2) identify and analyze major safety 
problem areas in gassy noncoal mines, and 

(3) quantify operational parameters in 
surface and underground mines and specify 
component performance requirements to 
assure reliable operation of safety sys- 
tems on mobile equipment. 

7. Application of Mine Safety Hardware 

Objective : Perform a benefit-cost 
analysis of the Bureau-developed fueling 



27 



area fire protection system for under- 
ground noncoal mines. 

Test Facilities 

8. Operation of Lake Lynn Laboratory 

Objective ; To operate the Lake Lynn 
Laboratory in support of ongoing Bureau 
of Mines programs. Examples of programs 
to be pursued include testing new 
types of explosion barriers or ignition- 
suppression devices, diagnosis and abate- 
ment of methane roof layers, minimum ini- 
tiation conditions for dust explosion, 
and explosion and hydrostatic testing of 
candidate explosion-proof bulkheads and 
water seals. 

9. Operation of Underground Test 
Facilities 

Objective ; To operate the two ex- 
perimental mine facilities located at 



Bruceton for the purpose of supporting 
ongoing research and development proj- 
ects. Examples of project activities 
scheduled for work in the mine facilities 
include construction and testing of 
explosion-proof bulkheads, trickle duster 
testing in return air courses, coal and 
oil shale fire tests, reduction of respi- 
rable dust generation by coal cutting 
equipment, and ground control instrumen- 
tation tests. 

10. Operation of Twilight Mine 
Radiation Facility 

Objective ; To continue to operate 
and maintain an underground uranium mine 
as a test facility to provide typical 
mine environmental conditions for re- 
search and development studies conducted 
by the Bureau of Mines, MSHA and other 
Government agencies, and outside contrac- 
tors in the area of radiation hazards. 



PART II.— CONTRACT RESEARCH 



Health 

Respirable Dust 

Program Objectives ; To develop pro- 
cedures for controlling the respirable 
dusts that still constitute the severest 
health problem facing the mining and min- 
erals processing industries. To develop 
and/or improve techniques and equipment 
to measure and prevent formation of haz- 
ardous dust concentrations and to protect 
miners against dusty atmospheres. 

Control of Generated Dust 

1. Conveyor Belt Dust Control 

Objective ; To reduce the occurrence 
of respirable dust at conveyor belt 
loading, dumping, screening, and transfer 
points by cost-effective dust control 
systems. The effort shall consist of 
data collection and analysis, design and 
fabrication of a dust control system, and 
in-plant evaluation. This is a continu- 
ation of an ongoing effort. 



2. Mine Evaluations of Longwall Dust 
Control Techniques 

Objective ; To evaluate the effec- 
tiveness of available dust control tech- 
nology for double-drum shearer longwall 
sections in a coordinated, systematic 
program at several longwall test sec- 
tions, and to make the results available 
to the entire coal mining industry. 
These evaluations should guide the coal 
mining industry toward the best available 
technology to control respirable dust 
with the least adverse impact on coal 
production. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

3. Improved Canopy Air Curtain 

Objective ; To develop an improved 
canopy air curtain system for mining and 
mineral processing use and to investigate 
the feasibility and develop a meth6d and 
hardware that will remove gaseous contam- 
inants in addition to particulates from 



28 



the mine air that will be delivered by 
the canopy air curtain. This is a conti- 
nuation of an ongoing effort. 

4. Near-Face Infusion for Longwall 
Dust Control 

Objective : To evaluate the feasibil- 
ity and effectiveness of utilizing near- 
face water infusion as a dust control 
technique on longwall mining operations. 
As much work has been done by foreign 
countries to develop equipment for this 
procedure, the main effort will be to 
make the modifications necessary to adopt 
this equipment to U.S. mining conditions, 
and then to conduct underground tests at 
various areas along the longwall face. 
This is a new RFP. 

5. Ventilation and Dust Control of Low 

Auger Mining Sections 

Objective : To provide a ventilation 
system with sufficient capability to sig- 
nificantly reduce the dust exposure at 
the jacksetter location. To design and 
install a water spray system that would 
suppress dust and move the air towards 
the desired direction. In-depth full- 
scale model testing of a coal mine work- 
ing face area with an auger-type mining 
machine, water spray system(s), and ven- 
tilation with line curtains or tube will 
be required to define the optimum system 
prior to underground evaluation. This is 
a new RFP. 

6. Evaluation of Electret Fiber 
Material for Mining and 

Milling Applications » 

Objective : To investigate the feasi- 
bility and practicality of using electret 
fiber material as a collection medium to 
remove respirable dust and other contami- 
nants from the air in mining and min- 
eral processing operations. This is a 
new RFP. 



Dust Instrumentation and Measurement 

7. Guidelines for Selecting Sampling 
Location(s) on Longwall Shearer 
Facess 

Objective : To provide guidelines for 
selecting dust sampling locations on 
longwall mining faces. Sampling will be 
conducted on three or more longwall min- 
ing sections using shearers. Multiple 
instantaneous sampling instruments will 
be used to measure simultaneously dust 
levels at locations up to 200 ft downwind 
of the shearer. Airflow characteristics 
will be monitored, and any physical ob- 
structions that might affect the airborne 
distribution of dust will be noted. In- 
formation will be used to produce a dust 
concentration map to aid in selection of 
a sampling location. This is a new RFP. 

Noise Control 

Program Objectives : To identify 
noise sources in underground and surface 
mines and in related mineral processing 
surface facilities, to abate these noise 
sources through both field retrofit and 
factory redesign approaches so that the 
mining operations and minerals processing 
activities meet the Federal noise expo- 
sure standards, to provide more accurate 
measurement of the noise environment, and 
to provide industry with the technical 
knowledge necessary to select, design, 
and implement noise control measures. 

1. Noise Study of Longwall Mining 
Sy s terns 

Objective : To develop quieter long- 
wall mining equipment. The noise prob- 
lems of longwall systems shall be identi- 
fied, and feasible engineering controls 
that achieve quieter operation without 
affecting production shall be assessed 
and demonstrated. It is anticipated that 
the demonstration phase will involve a 



29 



cooperative effort with a longwall equip- 
ment manufacturer. Prototype development 
of a quieter shearer was initiated in FY 
82. This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

2. Current Levels of Whole-Body 
Vibrations in Mines 

Objective : To determine and assess 
the present levels of mine personnel ex- 
posure to whole-body vibrations and to 
compare these levels with the results of 
a medical literature search relating 
vibration parameters to physiological ef- 
fects. To assess the capability of com- 
mercially available high-performance 
seats to reduce the adverse effects of 
whole-body vibration on the health, safe- 
ty, and productivity of the machine 
operator. 

3. Retrofit of Underground Load-Haul- 
Dump Machines With Noise Control 
Packages 



intent of this project is to take an in- 
tegrated approach to noise controlling a 
continuous miner. Noise control technol- 
ogy that will be developed for the cut- 
ting head will be incorporated with pre- 
viously developed chain conveyor controls 
and other noise controls into a test bed 
piece of equipment. The technology will 
be validated by underground testing. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

6. Development of Prototype Production 
Noise-Controlled Jumbo Drills 

Objective ; To develop a cost- 
effective, manuf acturable , quiet jumbo- 
mounted drill through redesign of major 
components. A preproduction prototype 
jumbo drill is to be designed, fabri- 
cated, and field-tested. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort. 

7. Assessment of Noise in the Metal 
and Nonmetal Mining Industry 



Objective : To develop retrofit noise 
control technology for specific models of 
load-haul-dump (LHD) machines. Noise 
control techniques shall be implemented 
and in-mine tested. Participation of the 
contractor with equipment manufacturers 
and mine operators is considered essen- 
tial in conducting this contract, which 
is a continuation of ongoing efforts to 
quiet LHD's through retrofit means. 

4. Development of a Prototype Hand-Held 
Rock Drill for Use in Metal and 
Nonmetal Mines 

Objective : To develop a reduced- 
noise hard rock drill for use in the 
metal and nonmetal mining industry. The 
basic technology that was successful in 
the development of a quieter coal mine 
pneumatic stoper drill shall be applied. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

5. Integrated Approach to Noise 
Control for a Continuous Miner 

Objective : To develop and field-test 
a noise-controlled continuous miner. The 



Objective : To gather data on noise 
levels, machine populations, duty cycles, 
and operator populations in the metal and 
nonmetal mining industry and to use these 
data to quantify the noise exposure im- 
pact in this industry and to identify 
primary noise sources and potential 
impact of noise control research. This is 
a continuation of an ongoing effort. 

8. Development of Engineering Design 
Concepts for Percussion Drill 
Steel Noise 

Objective : To develop and demon- 
strate the feasibility of novel engineer- 
ing approaches to controlling the noise 
of drill steels. This is a new RFP. 

Industrial Hygiene (Toxic Substances) 

Program Objectives : To identify and 
control health hazards in surface and 
underground mines and mineral process- 
ing plants caused by toxic and/or noxious 
gases and fumes, and certain particu- 
lates produced by explosives, combustible 
materials, and diesel engines. To de- 
velop and evaluate new instrumentation, 



30 



methods, and procedures for monitoring 
these substances. To analyze alternative 
power sources that may have health advan- 
tages over existing mine diesels. 

Toxic Gases and Materials 

1. Toxic Fumes From Explosives Tests 
in Underground Mines 

Objective : To determine the presence 
of trace toxic products such as nitro- 
s amines and others that may be present 
along with the expected products CO, 
CO2 , N0 X , SO2 , and NH3 in the fumes from 
explosives fired at the working face 
in a mine. Results will be used to char- 
acterize the transient nature of fumes 
generated during blasting, and to com- 
pare these in-mine results with results 
obtained by laboratory test methods. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

2. Monitoring of Mine Air Pollutants 

Objective : To develop and test en- 
gineering approaches for the control of 
mine air quality. To characterize ex- 
haust gas distributions in various venti- 
lation configurations in deadend drifts. 
To evaluate exhaust control hardware in 
simulated and real conditions. To inves- 
tigate methods to identify diesel soot on 
respirable dust filters. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort. 

Diesels 

3. Control of Diesel Exhaust in 
Mines — Af tertreatments 



This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

4. Control of Diesel Exhaust in Mines — 
Fuel Modifications 

Objective : To investigate the con- 
trol of diesel exhaust emissions by fuel 
modifications that can be made at the 
mine site. Specifically, water-fuel 
emulsifications will be evaluated, and 
optimization of the engine operating pa- 
rameters to combust these fuels will be 
performed. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

5. Development of a Clean Internal 
Combustion Engine for Underground 
Mining Machinery 

Objective : To evaluate a diesel- 
metal hydride power source (a diesel en- 
gine modified to burn hydrogen) for use 
in underground mining equipment from the 
standpoint of mine safety, technical fea- 
sibility, industry acceptance, and eco- 
nomics. Hydrogen fuel will be stored in 
a metal-hydride lattice. To design a 
program leading to construction of a pro- 
totype and subsequent demonstration of 
such a vehicle should it be warranted. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

Ventilation 

Program Objective : To develop ven- 
tilation systems required to maintain 
a safe and healthful atmosphere condu- 
cive to efficient work output in noncoal 
mines. 



Objective : To develop and field-test 
an exhaust emission control system for 
diesel-engine-powered equipment suitable 
for underground mining applications. 
Combinations of emission control methods 
including exhaust gas recirculation, cat- 
alytic converters, particulate filters, 
and water-fuel eraulsif ication will be 
investigated to determine the optimum 
combination for mining vehicles. The 
final combination will be field-tested. 



1. Optimization and Testing of 
Water-Spray Coolers 

Objective : To optimize the presently 
available 5,000-cfm water-spray cooler to 
assess its potential for larger cooling 
capacity operation. To investigate new 
and improved direct-contact, air-water 
heat exchangers for cooling the hot work- 
ing areas of deep mines. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort. 



31 



2. Water Turbine Energy Recovery System Roof Support Systems 



Objective ; To design, develop, and 
test a fluid motor system that takes 
energy from the high-pressure water flow- 
ing in vertical pipelines in deep hot 
mines and converts this energy into use- 
ful mechanical or electrical energy. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



1. Design, Fabricate and Test 
a Pumpable Bolt System 

Objective : To develop a system for 
installing longer-than-seara-height fiber- 
glass core, epoxy-grouted roof bolts. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



Safety 

Methane Control 

Program Objectives ; To develop, dem- 
onstrate, and transfer technology that 
will prevent the formation of flammable 
methane-air mixtures in underground mine 
workings through improved ventilation and 
procedures for degasifying the coal seam 
in advance of and during mining. To es- 
tablish correlations between the geology 
of the material to be mined and its gas 
content, and to use these to predict 
methane emission hazards. 

Control During Mining 

1. Improved Diffuser and Spray Fan 
System for Ventilation of Coal 
Mine Working Faces 

Objective ; To provide a spray fan 
system with sufficient methane control 
capability for any gassy work face; to 
devise, develop, and test a new auxiliary 
face ventilation concept, combining the 
advantages of diffuser fan and water 
spray ventilation; to evaluate, modify, 
and upgrade sensor positioning and pro- 
tection for machine-mounted methane moni- 
tors. This is a continuation of an on- 
going effort. 

Ground Control 

Program Objectives : To conceive, de- 
velop, demonstrate, and transfer technol- 
ogy that will prevent mine accidents at- 
tributable to falls of ground, outbursts, 
slope failures, and collapse of waste 
impoundment structures. 



Safe Support Installation 

2. Remote Manually Controlled 
Roof Bolter 

Objective : To develop a roof bolter 
in which the operator performs the bolt- 
ing function from a protected location 
under permanently supported roof through 
the use of remote controls. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

3. Confined Space, Drag- Jet Drill 

Objective : To develop a longer-than- 
seam-height roof bolt hole drill that in- 
cludes the best characteristics of a 
water jet drill. This a new RFP. 

4. An Electrically Powered Scaling Bar 

Objective : To develop a hand-held 
portable scaling bar that uses electro- 
hydraulic energy. This is a new procure- 
ment effort as the result of an unsolic- 
ited proposal. 

5. Development of a Roof Competence 

Tester 

Objective : To develop and evaluate 
a hand-held instrument for accuracy and 
reliability in detecting cracks, fis- 
sures, delaminations, and poorly cemented 
and otherwise weak rock structure in coal 
mine roofs. The instrument shall be 
suitable for use with all thicknesses of 
coalbeds and different roof compositions. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



32 



6. Retreat Mining Support System 

Objective : To design, build, and 
field-demonstrate a second-generation mo- 
bile roof support machine for retreat 
mining that will operate in 5- to 15-ft 
coal seams. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

7. Inorganic Grout Slurry Bolters 

Objective : To design, build, and 
mine test a machine that will mix and in- 
ject fast-setting inorganic grouts. The 
final object of the program is commercial 
acceptance of the bolter. Phase III 
(laboratory testing of the complete syn- 
thesized system) and phase IV (mine test- 
ing and final report) shall be completed. 
This will include installation of 70 to 
100 bolts to support an intersection. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

8. Develop Equipment To Expedite the 
Safe Installation of Roof Trusses 

Objective : To design and demon- 
strate mechanical installation equipment 
and practices for solid-rock roof trusses 
which will speed up the cycle time yet 
reduce the handling hazards associated 
with current practices. This is a conti- 
nuation of an ongoing effort. 

9. Fabricate and Test an Articulated 
Remote, Manual Roof Bolter 

Objective : To fabricate, laboratory- 
test, and perform an underground demon- 
stration of a prototype, articulated, re- 
mote manual roof bolter to evaluate the 
amount of accident reduction potential 
and production rate improvement. This a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

10. Extended Field Test of Torque-Thrust 
Control and Hardened Washers 

Objective : To determine the ef- 
fects of using hardened washers and a 



Bureau-developed, torque-thrust control 
bolter on uniformity of bolt tension and 
roof control. This is a continuation of 
an ongoing effort. 

11. Resin Injection and Resin Doweling 
for Longwall Face Stabilization 

Objective : To define and rank prob- 
lems of roof and face stabilization in 
longwalls, evaluate foreign and domestic 
technology in resin-injection and resin- 
doweling for application in U.S. mines, 
select those techniques that indicate the 
greatest benefits per cost and are not 
unnecessarily hazardous, develop testing 
procedures to demonstrate their effec- 
tiveness on longwall stabilization prob- 
lems, perform and document the demonstra- 
tion, and reassess the cost and safety 
benefits. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

12. Remote Drill-Bolting System for 
Metal and Nonmetal Mining 

Objective : To design, build, and 
mine-test a remote drill-bolt system for 
metal and nonmetal mining that will re- 
move the bolter operator from the bolting 
operation and place him or her in a pro- 
tected area not exposed to unsupported 
ground or moving equipmment. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Industrial Hazards 

Program Objectives : To (1) deter- 
mine how the quality of training can be 
increased to insure miners can do their 
tasks safely and productively, (2) define 
the role of the human in all aspects of 
tasks required during the mining cycle, 

(3) determine how the human can be pro- 
tected from the hazards of mining, 

(4) determine what information must be 
available to the miner and at what level 
to increase safety, and (5) determine 
what information must be available to re- 
flect the human requirements in equipment 
designed for mining. 



33 



Human Factors 

1. Determining the Effect of Incentive 
Programs on the Occurrence of 
Accidents, Injuries, Productivity, 
and Employee Attitudes 

Objective : To identify types of in- 
centive programs that reduce accidents 
and injuries and are acceptable to the 
management and employees of underground 
coal mining companies. This is a new 
RFP. 

2. Formalizing Occupational Training 

Objective : To continue development 
of instructional guides and performance 
criteria for selected underground and 
surface mining tasks. This is a continu- 
ation of an ongoing effort. 

3. Preparation of Baseline Training 
Materials for Assisting Compliance 
and Accident Reduction in the Metal 
and Nonmetal Mining Industry 

Objective : To establish health and 
safety performance criteria and evalua- 
tion techniques for the underground salt 
mining industry. This is a continuation 
of an ongoing effort. 

4. Increasing the Effectiveness of Mine 
Management by Career Development and 
Job Engineering 

Objective : To increase the safety 
and productivity performance of mine man- 
agers and supervisory personnel by re- 
searching ways to apply recently devel- 
oped approaches to human resource utili- 
zation and integrating new methods of 
supervisory and managerial training with 
on-the-job career development techniques. 
This is a new RFP. 

Electrical 

5. Ground and Ground Bed Monitoring 

Objective : To determine methods of 
reducing ground bed conductor corrosion, 
including the bias current method. To 
improve measurement methods, particularly 



where large ground beds or extremely high 
or low resistivities are involved. To 
investigate innovative approaches to 
ground monitoring for feasibility of ex- 
tending coverage to all varieties of 
grounding systems. This is a new 
contract. 

6. Implementation of Shock Prevention 
in Mine Equipment and Machinery 

Objective : To verify that the shock 
prevention concepts now being completed 
will be practical and effective. To con- 
duct final evaluation of these concepts 
and initiate in-mine tests of concepts 
showing the most promise at a power cen- 
ter and one piece of face equipment. 
This is a new contract. 

7. Administration and Maintenance of the 
Mine Electrical Research Laboratory 

Objective : To maintain support of 
the mine electrical research laboratory 
for use on Bureau of Mines in-house and 
contract research projects. This is a 
continuing contract. 

8. Mine Power System Monitoring 

Objective : To formulate an overall 
basis for monitoring mine power systems. 
The performance of hazard-prediction 
techniques shall be evaluated by mathe- 
matically modeling electrical machines 
and cable-connected electrical machines 
under various deteriorating conditions. 
To verify results of algorithm computa- 
tions to predict a given incipient safety 
hazard, and perform a system error analy- 
sis. A microprocessor prototype shall 
then be constructed and in-mine-tested. 
This is a new contract. 

9. Mine Hoist Electrical System Study 

Objective : To develop a maintenance 
and inspection manual for hoisting sys- 
tems used in U.S. mines. The maintenance 
section will aid operators in performing 
periodic preventive maintenance on 
hoists, while the inspection portion will 
aid MSHA in performing hoist inspections. 
This is a continuing contract. 



34 



Mine Equipment Safety 

10. Advancement of Cab and Canopy 
Design and Use in Coal Mines 

Objective ; To update the cab and 
canopy catalog and print additional 
copies. This will conclude the effort. 

11. Extension of Low-Coal Cab and Canopy 
Technology To Include Coal Drilling 
and Cutting Machines 

Objective ; To develop adequate 
human-engineered operator cabs with pro- 
tective canopies for coal drilling and 
cutting machines, and validate these in 
low-coal. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 

12. Validation of Remote Operator's 
Compartment for Controlling a 
Low-Seam Continuous Miner 

Objective ; To develop and validate 
the technology for controlling a low-coal 
continuous miner from a remote operator 
station. This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 



tests and computer analysis to determine 
if present criteria are adequate. This 
will conclude the project. 

16. Analysis of ROPS in Service For 
at Least 5 Years 

Objective ; To examine and evaluate 
the fatigue-related problems of ROPS 
owing to vibrations inherent to the ma- 
chines on which they are mounted and the 
terrain characteristics of the surface 
mine. This is the continuation of an on- 
going effort. 

Illumination 

17. Feasibility Study of Alternate 
Methods for Mine Illumination 
Systems 

Objective ; To evaluate methods of 
mine illumination where minimal luminance 
requirements are met without causing 
glare problems and to investigate alter- 
nate methods of specifying illumination 
regulations to provide maximum luminance 
with minimum glare. This is a continuing 
contract. 



13. Portable Dynamic Brake Testing 

Apparatus 

Objective ; To develop a testing ap- 
paratus to enable remote evaluation of 
brake performance on underground mining 
vehicles at near-zero speeds and higher. 
This will conclude the project. 

14. Extended Validation of Low-Coal 
Bridge Carrier Operator's » 
Compartment with Canopy 

Objective ; To further validate the 
utility of a successful operator compart- 
ment with canopy in lower coal seams. 
This will conclude the project. 

15. Development of ROPS Performance 
Criteria for Large Mobile Mining 
Equipment 

Objective ; To provide data on large 
machine ROPS performance criteria by 



18. Development of Minimal Luminance 
Systems for Underground Metal 
and Nonmetal Mines 

Objective ; To design illumination 
systems for selected work areas and tasks 
as recommended by present studies. These 
designs will be evaluated to verify that 
these systems can meet the minimal re- 
quirements without producing excessive 
glare. This is a new contract. 

Mine Communications and Monitoring 

19. Multiplex Distribution System for 
Multichannel Pager Phone Communication 

Objective ; To design, fabricate, 
and validate a multichannel telephone 
communication system using the selectable 
pager phone as a local intercom which 
will provide maximum communication capa- 
bility at minimum cost. This is a conti- 
nuation of an ongoing effort. 



35 



20. Guidelines for Control Systems 
In Mines 

Objective : To investigate guide- 
lines for safe implementation of 
processor-based, remote control systems 
in underground mines. A general philoso- 
phy on safety considerations for control 
systems will be arrived at which can be 
applied to hoists, fire suppression sys- 
tems, belts, rail haulage, face equip- 
ment, fans, circuit breakers, and other 
equipment. This is a new RFP. 

21. An Analysis of the Interaction of 
Mine Radio Systems With Mine 
Telemetry and Control Systems 

Objective ; To investigate potential 
problems concerning the parasitic cou- 
pling of electromagnetic energy into en- 
vironmental or control telemetry lines, 
and to environmental sensors or control 
devices. This is a new RFP. 

22. Second Western Mining Industry 
Electrotechnology Conference 

Objective ; To provide a forum for 
industry and Government to present the 
latest developments in mine health and 
safety related electrotechnology. This 
is a directed RFP. 

23. Evaluate Hardware for Medium- 
Frequency Mine Wireless 
Communication System — 
Phase IV 

Objective ; To evaluate and validate 
Bureau-developed medium-frequency hard- 
ware under mine operational conditions 
and to document the results. This is a 
continuing contract. 

Haulage and Materials Handling 

24. Safety Evaluation of Conveyor 
Belt Cleaning Systems 

Objective : To determine conveyor 
belt cleaning system parameters to reduce 
the amount of hazardous hand labor asso- 
ciated with the cleanup of conveyor areas 



that is required owing to the use of in- 
effective belt cleaners. This is a con- 
tinuation of an ongoing effort. 

25. Development of Consistent Low-G 
Hoist Arrestment Devices 

Objective ; To complete the develop- 
ment of predictable consistent low-G ar- 
restment devices that eliminate the high 
transient forces during an arrestment. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 

26. Hoisting System Components — 
Selection and Guidelines 

Objective : To develop a comprehen- 
sive set of guidelines that cover all as- 
pects of analysis, selection, and design 
of the electrical and structural compo- 
nents of a hoisting system. This is a 
continuation of an ongoing effort. 

Postdisaster 

Program Objectives : To develop tech- 
nology that will (1) enable survivors of 
a mine disaster to escape from the mine 
or to continue to survive while awaiting 
rescue by providing protection against 
toxic and/or oxygen-deficient atmos- 
pheres, (2) aid in the location of miners 
trapped underground, using seismic and 
electromagnetic means of communication, 
and (3) facilitate postdisaster rescue 
and recovery operations through surface 
monitoring of conditions underground, 
emergency communications, and mechanized 
transport and life support equipment for 
mine reentry and rescue operations. 

Survival 

1. Guidelines for Oxygen Self-Rescuers 

Objective : To develop recommenda- 
tions on the safest, most practical meth- 
ods for complying with new regulations 
requiring that all underground coal 
miners be provided a self-contained self- 
rescuer (SCSR). This is a continuation 
of an ongoing effort. 



36 



2. Physiological Responses of Coal 
Miners to Emergency 

Objective : To quantitatively evalu- 
ate the physiological responses (circula- 
tory and respiratory) of male and female 
miners while wearing self-contained 
breathing apparatus (SCBA) for purposes 
of emergency escape or rescue. This 
involves measuring the psychomotor and 
physiological costs to the wearer while 
breathing against (1) positive pressue, 
(2) high CO2 concentrations, and (3) var- 
iable resistance. Within the next 
2 years, this contract should define safe 
limits for the parameters listed and pub- 
lish data to support said limits to sup- 
port efforts to revise MSHA-National 
Institute for Occupational Safty and 
Health (NIOSH) regulations (30 CFR 11). 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



system has been shown to be effective in 
a substantial number of coal mines no 
deeper than 300 meters. However, for 
deeper mines, which comprise about 10 pet 
in number and involve 20 pet of the work 
force, improvements will be necessary. 
The overall goal of this effort is to 
investigate possible alternatives, select 
the most promising of these options, and 
build and demonstrate implementing hard- 
ware. This is a continuation of an on- 
going effort. 

5. Adaptive Noise Cancellation 
Techniques 

Objective : To study adaptive noise 
cancellation techniques using multiple 
three-axis loop antenna and to develop 
algorithms to implement these techniques. 
This is a continuation of an ongoing 
effort. 



3. Computerized Breathing Metabolic 
Simulator 

Objective : To purchase a computer- 
ized breathing and metabolic simulator 
for use in conducting in-house research 
related to breathing apparatus. This is 
a new RFP. 

Communications 



4. Electromagnetic Rescue System 
for Deep Mines 

Objective : Over the past several 
years, the Bureau has been experimenting 
with voice frequency (VF) communication 
systems for detection and location of 
workers trapped underground. The present 



Rescue and Mine Recovery 

6. Trapped Miner Location Systems 
Performance Guidelines 

Objective : To establish performance 
guidelines for systems developed for 
locating trapped miners. This is a new 
RFP. 

7. Rescue Team Helmet 

Objective : To build five preproduc- 
duction rescue team helmets (RTH) , to be 
compatible with the new low-profile, 
lightweight rescue breathing apparatus 
(LPRBA). This is a continuation of an 
ongoing effort. 



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